Gunner Henry Johnson

Ancestor Details

Ancestor's Name: Henry Robert Johnson
Ancestor's date of birth: 20/07/1875
Ancestor's date of death: 09/05/1940
Cause of Death: Not sure
Service Number: Boer War service cannot be confirmed
Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: He probably orininally enlisted from the Bombala region.
Unit: A Battery, Royal Australian Artillery.
Rank attained in Boer War: GNR, Date Effective: On enlistment (unconfirmed)
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): PTE, Date Effective: 30/06/1915
Murray Page: Boer War service cannot be confirmed, it is not mentioned in Murray, it should have been, his WW1 enlistment papers state he served in South Africa with A Battery and that he bought his discharge on return to Australia.
Contingent: Second New South Wales
Ship: Warrigal, Date of Sailing: 30/12/1899
Memorial details: Detail not provided
Decorations: Queen and King's South Africa Medals (unconfirmed)
Personal Characteristics: Detail not provided
Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided
Details of service in war: February 1900 - August 1901 in Cape Colony and Transvaal. My mum has a leather wristband with a brown shape of Australia which I believe may be his ID from the South African campaign.
Service and life after the Boer War: His enlistment papers for WW1 note his service in South Africa with A Battery Royal Australian Artillery, however, he cannot be found in Murray. He served as a private in the Australian Army Medical Corps in World War 1. Enlisting on 30/06/1915 he served on 1 Australian Hospital Ship, and 16 Field Ambulance in France. He returned to Australia on 1/02/1918. This is the transcript of his obituary:"The Late Sargeant Johnson On Thursay May 9th,1940 the death occured at his residence , 47 Howley Street, Five Dock of Sergeant Henry Robert Johnson and ex sergeant of Police and a veteran of the Boer and Great Wars ( 1914 -18) at the age of 64 yrs. The late Segeant Johnson was formerly associated with the Balmain Police until his retirement some years ago. In private life the late Mr Johnson took considerable interest in the P.A.F.S of Australia being Secretary of the Five Dock Branch and was also treasurer of the Philatelic Society of Australia for many years. Mr Johnson was a great advocate for the Rodd's Point Baths and also associated with the Rodd's Point Progres Asociation as its treasurer. A large andrepresentatvie gathering attended the funeral, the coffin of which was draped with the Union Jack. A Masonic service was held at the crematorium. At the completion of the service the wreaths were brought back to Five Dock and placed on the War Memorial in Five Dock Park. As a mark of respect the flag was flown at half mast."

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Deborah Ann Goodwin (nee Johnson), Ettalong Beach NSW 2257
Relationship to Ancestor: great grand daughter

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