| Regimental number | 280 |
| Place of birth | Colac, Victoria |
| School | Colac State School and Ellemenyt State School, Victoria |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Beeac, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 26 |
| Next of kin | Samuel Heber Johnson, Beeac, Victoria |
| Enlistment date | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 13th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 10/18/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A34 Persic on |
| Regimental number from Nominal Roll | Commissioned |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Lieutenant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 14th Battalion |
| Recommendations (Medals and Awards) |
Mention in Despatches Recommendation date: Military Cross Recommendation date: Military Cross Recommendation date: Bar to Military Cross Recommendation date: Bar to Military Cross or Companion of the Distinguished Service Order Recommendation date: Mention in Despatches Awarded, and gazetted, 'London Gazette', second Supplement, No. 30448 (28 December 1917); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 (18 April 1918). |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Villers-Bretonneux, France |
| Age at death | 30 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 30 |
| Place of burial | Crucifix Corner Cemetery (Plot VII, Row D, Grave No. 5), Villers-Bretonneux, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 73 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Commemorated in Beeac Cemetery, Victoria. Parents: Samuel Heber (d. 27 August 1917, aged 66; bu. Beeac) and Jane (d. 21 February 1944, aged 90; bu. Beeac) JOHNSON, Olive Bank, Beeac, Victoria. Native of Colac, Victoria |
| Medals |
Distinguished Service Order 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In the capacity of battalion intelligence officer, he located the enemy outposts in bright moonlight over an unknown country, and guided the battalion to a position from which the enemy was easily expelled at daylight with numerous casualties. On another occasion, by working over a mile of "No Man's Land" in broad daylight, he gained valuable information about our own and the enemy's dispositions.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15 Date: Military Cross 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He obtained information from the firing line, and established liaison with the flank under a very heavy barrage after his brigade had taken over an additional 500 yards of the frontage. Two nights afterwards he made a valuable reconnaissance in connection with a minor operation.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 150 Date: |
| Family/military connections | Brother: [279] 2nd Lt Arthur Joseph JOHNSON, 2nd Machine Gun Bn, returned to Australia, 7 February 1919. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Medals: Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
