Regimental number | 715 |
Place of birth | Healesville, Victoria |
School | Camberwell Grammar School, Victoria |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Clerk |
Address | Myrtle Street, Middle Brighton, Victoria |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 18 |
Height | 5' 6.75" |
Weight | 142 lbs |
Next of kin | Father, Herbert Johnson, Myrtle Street, Middle Brighton, Victoria |
Previous military service | Served as a Senior Cadet (Sergeant), 46th Bn, 4 years. |
Enlistment date | |
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 31st Battalion, C Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D sailed on two ships, HMAT A62 Wandilla, 9th November 1915 from Melbourne, and HMAT A41 Bakara, 5 November 1915, from Melbourne. It is not possible to tell from the Embarkation Roll on which ship an individual embarked. | |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Lance Corporal |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of death or wounding | Beaucamp, Fromelles, France |
Age at death | 19 |
Age at death from cemetery records | 19 |
Place of burial | Pheasant Wood Military Cemetery, Fromelles, France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 118 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Originally listed as buried in Pont-de-Hem Military Cemetery (Beaucamps Communal Cemetery, German Extension Memorial 23), La Corque, France. Parents: Hubert and Alice Maude Mary JOHNSON, Sandown Street, Middle Brighton, Victoria |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 7 December 1915. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 25 June 1916. Killed in action, 21 July 1916. Identity disc received from Germany, 24 February 1917. Note on B.103, buried at Fleurbaix, Sh.36 N.W. Translation of German report, 29 October 1919, 'Iden: Disc [h]anded over by Intell: Officer with 6th Army H.Q. 12/10/16[.] Australian Pte. R. Johnson, 715, 31st Bn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles 19/7/16.' Australian Red Cross, Wounded and Missing Bureau information, 15 October 1920, 'Johnson, R. 715 C.31. A.L.C.E. Fell 19.7.16 near Fromelles[.] FINAL GERMAN DEATH LIST ?M-' On 1 August 1924 the Secretary of Australian Graves Services wrote in a letter, 'I enclose herewith Location Sheet No. AA/LS/5/12346 showing that a Special Memorial is to be erected in PONT DU HEM MILITARY CEMETERY to the memory of L/Cpl. R. Johnson, bearing the inscription:- "To the memory of this Australian Soldier who died as a Prisoner of War in 1916 and is believed to have been buried at the time in Beauchamps Communal Cemetery German Extension, but whose grave is now lost. THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT."' Note, Red Cross File No 1450214: 'The above name appeared on German death list dated 4-11-16.' Note on file: 'Buried Fleurbaix Sh. 36 N.W. Cert. by A.I.F. Hdqrs List for Lt Spedding.' Note on file: 'Disc received from Germany and forwarded to next of kin 20.6.17. Cert. by Kit Stores. 1.9.19.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Miscellaneous details | Father's address subsequently 'Glan-y-Mor', Sandown Street, Middle Brighton, Victoria |
Sources | NAA: B2455, JOHNSON Ralph
Red Cross file 1450214 |