|
|
| Page revised: 15 January, 2008 |
Second Lieutenant Frederick Henry JOHNSON VC |
| Born: | Streatham, London, 15 August 1890 | 
|
|
| Died: | Cambrai, France, 26 November 1917 | ||
| Burial details: | No grave - Commemorated on Cambrai Memorial. | ||
| Corps service: | He was commissioned into the Corps in 1914 from the London University OTC. After he received his VC he was appointed to the command of 231 Field Company (40th Division), and was killed in Bourlon Wood at the Battle of Cambrai on 26 November 1917. | ||
| VC awarded: | VC at Loos on 25 September 1915 (First World War 1914-18) | ||
| VC unit: | 73 Field Company | ||
| VC presented: | VC presented by King George V at Buckingham Palace on 22 December 1915. | ||
| VC citation: | For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in
the attack on Hill 70, on 25 September 1915. Second Lieutenant Johnson
was with a section of his company of the Royal Engineers. Although
wounded in the leg, he stuck to his duty throughout the attack, led
several charges on the German redoubt, and at a very critical time,
under heavy fire, repeatedly rallied he men who were near him. By
his splendid example and cool courage he was mainly instrumental in
saving the situation and in establishing firmly his part of the position
which had been taken. He remained at his post until relieved in the
evening. (London Gazette: 18 November 1915) |
||
| VC location: | Privately held. | ||
| Background: | Johnson won his VC on the first day of the battle of
Loos (24 Sept -13 Oct 1915). The battle was the British contribution
to the northern element of the Allies' autumn offensive of 1915. Before
the war Loos had been a coal mining area described as 'dead flat,
featureless country; dozens of big gaunt mines and huge black slag-heaps'
(Capt H Bayley, RFA - 28 Sept 1915) the slag-heaps provided the only
high ground in the area and were consequently furiously fought over
and utilised by both the British and Germans for fortifications and
observation posts purposes. The attack began at 7.05 am. In the south,
the village of Loos was taken by 8 am, and troops advanced to Hill
70, from where they had seen the Germans retreating, but in following
them they were caught by fire from a prepared second line. It was
in this part of the battle that Johnson found himself. Another Sapper VC recipient in this battle was:
|
||
| Source:
Additional material: SC Fenwick, FoREM Links to further reading:
|
Royal Engineers Museum main site
Royal Engineers Museum main site
