JOHNSON, Walter Richmond Buchanan
| Service Number: | 3005 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 15th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Pyrmont, New South Wales, Australia, February 1890 |
| Home Town: | Hurstville, Kogarah, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Dumbleton Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Illness, General Hospital, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England , 20 November 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, Prestbury, England Row M, Grave No. 9222 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3005, 5th Field Ambulance | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 3005, 5th Field Ambulance, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ajana embarkation_ship_number: A31 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 3005, 5th Field Ambulance, HMAT Ajana, Sydney | |
| 31 May 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Driver, 5th Field Ambulance | |
| 24 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 6 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 15th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 3005, 15th Field Ambulance, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 3005 awm_unit: 15th Australian Field Ambulance awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-11-20 |
Help us honour Walter Richmond Buchanan Johnson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 20th November…… Walter Richmond Buchanan Johnson was born at Ultimo (Crown Street), Sydney, NSW in 1890.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 25th March, 1915 as a 25 year old, single, Farmer (occupation of Farmer was listed on Embarkation Roll & the Attestation Papers, however information submitted by his mother for the Roll of Honour records his occupation as Baker) from Hurstville, Sydney, NSW.
Private Walter Richmond Buchanan Johnson, Service number 3005, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Ajana (A31) on 31st May, 1915 with the 5th Infantry Brigade, 5th Field Ambulance “A” Section. He was promoted to the rank of Driver for embarkation.
He proceeded to join the M.E.F. (Mediterranean Expeditionary Force) at Gallipoli on 16th August, 1915.
On 25th November, 1915 Driver Johnson was transferred to Maadi.
Driver Johnson was transferred from 5th Field Ambulance to 15th Field Ambulance at Tel el Kebir on 24th February, 1916 & was taken on strength of 15th Field Ambulance the same day.
He was to be Transport Sergeant from 6th May, 1916 while posted at Ferry Post.
On 18th June, 1916 Sergeant Johnson embarked for overseas from Alexandria on Troopship Georgian & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 27th June, 1916.
Sergeant Walter Johnson of 15th Australian Field Ambulance, was recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal on 6th April, 1917 by Lieut.-Col. A. Horn, C.O., 15th Australian Field Ambulance, for the following action: “This N.C.O. was in charge of the transport of “A” Section, 15th Australian Field Ambulance, which evacuated casualties from the “Advanced Guard” of the 5th Australian Division, from 18th March, ’17 till 5th April, ’17.
The roads near FREMICOURT and BEUGNY had been so interfered with by enemy mines that they were quite impassable to motor ambulance wagons. As the long line of evacuation rendered it necessary to push the cars as far forward as possible, the successful evacuation of wounded and sick from the front line would have been most difficult and even impossible without large reinforcements of bearers, had not SGT. JOHNSON carried out with conspicuous success the construction of roads around the craters. By the thoroughness of his work, the transport of all arms was enabled to pass the obstacles for the first week of the advance, during which period no working parties for the repair of roads were available. It was entirely due to the skill and splendid example.”
He was severely reprimanded on 14th April, 1917 “when on active service allowing horses to break away from Parade.”
On 1st January, 1918 Sergeant Walter Johnson was detached from 15th Field Ambulance to 23rd Veterinary Hospital & rejoined his Unit on 11th January, 1918.
Sergeant Walter Johnson was on furlough to UK from 12th February, 1918 & rejoined his Unit from furlough on 28th February, 1918.
He was sent to A.C. Gas School (Instruction) from 30th June, 1918 & rejoined his Unit on 6th July, 1918.
On 26th July, 1918 Sergeant Walter Johnson was sent to 4th Army Rest Camp & was to rejoin his Unit on 12th August, 1918.
A Charge was placed against Sergeant W. R. B. Johnson, 3005, 15th Australian Field Ambulance: – “Place: Paris; Date of Offence: 3.8.18; Offence: When on Active Service Absent from until apprehended by Mil. Police about 8.5 pm. Names of Witnesses: L/Cpl Overthrow, M.F.P.”
Sergeant Walter Johnson reported sick on 22nd August, 1918. He was admitted to 55th Casualty Clearing Station on 22nd August, 1918 & transferred & admitted to 10th General Hospital in France on 23rd August, 1918 with an abdominal Tumor.
A Medical Board was assembled at No. 10 General Hospital, France on 29th August, 1918 “for the purpose of investigating and reporting upon the health of No. 3005 Sergeant W. R. B. Johnson, 15th Australian Field Ambulance…..The Board having assembled pursuant to order, proceed to examine the above named solider, who is a prisoner awaiting trial, and find that he is suffering from a large Abdominal Tumour involving the Right Kidney. He is unfit to stand his trial and unlikely to be fit for active service again. Recommendation – The Board recommend that he be evacuated to England for further treatment and subsequent probable invaliding.”
He was transferred to England on Hospital Ship Grantully Castle on 23rd September, 1918 & was admitted to V.A. Hospital, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England on 24th September, 1918 with an abdominal Tumor – slight.
Sergeant Walter Richmond Buchanan Johnson died at 3.30 am on 20th November, 1918 at General Hospital, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England from Carcinoma – Abdominal Tumor.
He was buried in in Cheltenham Cemetery, Gloucestershire, England where 9 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/cheltenham.html
Click images to start slideshow.