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William JOHNSON

Main CPGW Record

Surname: JOHNSON

Forename(s): William

Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire

Service No: 40785

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: South Staffordshire Regiment

Battalion / Unit: 2nd Battalion

Division: 2nd Division

Age: ---

Date of Death: 1918-07-31

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: A. 80.

CWGC Cemetery: CONDE-SUR-L’ESCAUT COMMUNAL CEMETERY

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: BEAMSLEY, YORKSHIRE

Local War Memorial: BOLTON ABBEY, YORKSHIRE

Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

William Johnson was the son of Spencer and Martha Wilson Johnson, née Mycock. Spencer was born at Beamsley, Yorkshire and Martha at Snailbeach, Shropshire.

1891 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: Devonshire Place [7, Bailey Terrace] - William Johnson, aged 6 months, born Skipton, son of Spencer and Martha W. Johnson. [Martha died in 1892 and Spencer married Mary Read in 1893.]

1901 Hazlewood with Storiths, Yorkshire Census: Deerstones - William Johnson, aged 10 years, born Skipton, Yorkshire, grandson of Thomas Johnson, widower.

1911 Beamsley, Yorkshire Census: Hardy Grange - William Johnson, aged 20 years, born Skipton, Yorkshire. Farm Hand. [William was employed by Elizabeth Usher, widow.]

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte William Johnson, 40785, South Staffordshire Regiment.

A short biography of William is included in: ‘Swaledale & Wharfedale Remembered – Aspects of Dales’ life through peace and war’ by Keith Taylor (2006).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

JOHNSON, W., South Staffs. Regt., son of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Johnson, Wharfe View, [Beamsley], died from pneumonia, Germany, July 31, 1918.

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Private William JOHNSON

Private William JOHNSON

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: South Staffordshire Regiment

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: South Staffordshire Regiment

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 2nd Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 2nd Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: JOHNSON

Forename(s): William

Born:

Residence: Bradley, Yorks

Enlisted: Skipton, Yorks

Number: 40785

Rank: Private

Regiment: South Staffordshire Regiment

Battalion: 2nd Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 31/07/18

Died How: Died

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: JOHNSON

Forename(s): W

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 40785

Rank: Private

Regiment: South Staffordshire Regiment

Unit: 2nd Bn.

Age:

Awards:

Died Date: 31/07/1918

Additional Information:

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View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

10 May 1918

WOUNDED AND MISSING

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, of Beamsley, Bolton Abbey, have received official information that their youngest son, Private William Johnson, of the South Staffords, is missing from March 24th. He is 27 years of age and enlisted in March 1917, and went to France in July of the same year. His brother, Sergeant Tom Johnson, also of the South Staffs, was the first Bolton Abbey man to join the Army, and was the first to come back wounded, which was in July 1915. He is at present acting as instructor at Sutton-on-Sea. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have also two son-in-laws serving, one having been wounded last September, and the other has just got his commission.

24 May 1918

BOLTON ABBEY – Beamsley Soldier Prisoner in Germany

Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Johnson have received a postcard from their son, Private W. Johnson, South Staffordshire Regiment, to say he is quite well, but is a prisoner in Germany. They have previously received official notice to say he had been missing (as reported in the ‘Craven Herald’ of May 10th) since March 24th. It is a great relief to his mother, father, other members of the family, and to his numerous friends to know that he is still alive and well. The postcard was written on April 7th.

01 November 1918

JOHNSON - July 31st, at the Prisoner of War Hospital, Conde, Pte. William Johnson, aged 27 years, dearly beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Johnson, Beamsley.

01 November 1918

BOLTON ABBEY – BEAMSLEY SOLDIER’S DEATH

Private W. Johnson, South Staffs. Regiment, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Johnson, Wharfe View, Beamsley, has died whilst a prisoner of war in Germany. Notification was received by his parents last week stating that he died of pneumonia on July 31st and was buried at Conde.

The following letter was received from the Infantry Record Office, Litchfield:–

“Sir, – It is my painful duty to inform you that a report has been received from the War Office notifying the death of No. 40705 Private William Johnson, 2nd South Staffs, which occurred in the Prisoner of War Hospital at Conde on the 31st July 1918. The report is to the effect that he died of pneumonia and was buried in Conde Cemetery, Grave 2,079. I am, sir, your obedient servant. W. SCOTT, Lieut.”

The last letter received from Private Johnson was dated July 11th, and said he was well, and was from Parchim, the north of Germany, so that in about a fortnight he had been removed (how, we don’t know) 500 miles on to the Western Front, close to the firing line. What was he doing there? This question has been asked several times since the sad news of his death arrived in the district, and which was only received last week.

Private Johnson’s genial disposition gained him many friends; he was a sober, steady and trustworthy young man. He enlisted March 1917, and went to France in July of the same year. He was posted ‘missing’ March 24th 1918, but a postcard was received from him in May to say he was well, but a prisoner of war. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have another son and two sons-in-law serving with the Colours. Their other son, Sergeant Tom Johnson, is an Instructor at Lincoln, and one of their sons-in-law gained a commission – Lieut. Harold Beevers, North Hants Regiment, who is now lying wounded in the Nasrich Hospital, Cairo, being wounded by an explosive bullet in the chest.

Much sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and family in their great trouble.

01 August 1919

JOHNSON – In loving, memory of Private William Johnson who died as a prisoner of war at Conde, July 31st, 1918.

From Father, Mother, Brother and Sisters, Beamsley.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

10 May 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Beamsley Soldier Missing

Much sympathy is felt for Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Johnson, Wharfe View, Beamsley, in their great anxiety and trouble. Their second son, Pte. W. Johnson, South Staffordshire Regiment, has been missing since March 24th. Pte. Johnson enlisted in March, 1917, and went to France the following July. Prior to enlisting he was engaged by Mr. Chester, farmer, Bradley. His brother, Sergt. Tom Johnson, South Staffords, who was wounded in the early stages of the war, was the first Bolton Abbey lad to enlist, the first to go to France, and the first to come home wounded. He is now drill instructor at Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire.

24 May 1918

CRAVEN AND THE WAR

Beamsley Prisoner of War

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Wharfe View, Beamsley, have received a postcard from their son, Pte. W. Johnson, South Staffordshire Regiment, stating that he is a prisoner in Germany, but quite well. They had previously received official information to say he had been missing since March 24th, 1918.

01 November 1918

JOHNSON – Jul, 31st, at the Prisoners of War Hospital, Conde, Pte. William Johnson, aged 27, dearly beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Johnson, Beamsley.

01 November 1918

Beamsley Soldier’s Death in Germany

Pte. W. Johnson, South Staffs. Regiment, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Johnson, Wharfe View, Beamsley, has died while a prisoner of war in Germany, his parents being notified from the Record Office, Lichfield, last week. It is stated that he died of pneumonia on July 31st, at Conde, in a prisoner of war hospital. The last letter received from him was dated July 14th, and stated that he was well; this letter was from Parchim, so that in about a fortnight he was removed about 500 miles from the north of Germany to the Western front, close to the firing lines. Pte. Johnson was a steady and trustworthy young man; he enlisted in March, 1917, and went to France the July following; he was posted missing on March 24th, 1918, but information was received later by his parents to say that he was well but a prisoner of war in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have a son and two sons-in-law serving with the colours. Much sympathy is felt for the members of the family.

06 December 1918

Bolton Abbey and the War

The ecclesiastical parish of Bolton Abbey, which includes Beamsley, Barden, Bolton Abbey, Halton East & Hazlewood with Storiths, has worked with untiring energy and zeal since the commencement of the war. The following amounts have been raised for War Charities:– By collections in the Abbey church, £38 2s. 11d; by collections in Beamsley Wesleyan Chapel, £12 8s. 1½d; by collections in Barden Church, £3s. 3d [£3 3s]; by the Bolton Abbey working party, £385: by concert, arranged by Mrs. Herbert Carr £18 18s.; making a grand total of £459 15s. 3½d.

The roll of honour contains 97 names; eleven have given their lives in the great cause. These are:– Sylvester Hartley, John Fawcett, Basil Newall, Gill Morell, Herbert Holmes, George Binns, John Thomas Ideson, John Mitchell, William Mitchell, William Johnson and James Atkins. Two are at present prisoners in Germany, Dixon Robinson, Allan Hudson; three have been discharged as unfit, Alex Nelson, Norman Nelson, Frank Higgins; and one presumed killed but not definitely notified, Sec. Lieutenant C. Boothman, R.F.C. Each Christmas the lads from Bolton Abbey have received a parcel, and the greatest credit is due to the committee and Mrs. Downs, who has been secretary, for their labour of love.

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