Yorkshire Regment
Remembrance - The Yorkshire Regiment, First World War
Private Frederick JOHNSON. 8697
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Yorkshire Regment

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Private Frederick JOHNSON, 8697.

2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment. Brother of Mr. H. A. Johnson, of 38, "C" Block, Polygon Buildings, Clarendon Square, Somers Town, London. Killed 22 October 1914. Aged 25.
Born Holborn (London), Enlisted Stratford, Resided Highgate (N W).
Commemorated Panel 33, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.

John Sly (<sly211@btinternet.com>) has researched the career of Private Johnson in connection with Private Johnson's medals. John has written a short biography of Private Johnson, below;-

Army Medal Office rolls confirm the award of the 1914 Star and Bar, giving his date of disembarkation as 5 October 1914. The rolls also record that the original medals were returned 20 March 1923, and re-issued, with the clasp, to ‘Bro H.A.’ 7 May 1929.
Soldiers Died In The Great War records that he was born in Holborn, enlisted in Stratford, resided in Highgate NW, and was killed in action 22 October 1914, France & Flanders.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission data adds that he was 25, the brother of H A Johnson, 38 C Block, Polygon Buildings, Clarendon Square, Somers Town, London.
He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial.
Regimental records confirm that he was born in Holborn, and enlisted 10 January 1907 at Stratford, age 18 years 1 month, giving his occupation as a press hand, and having previously served with 22/Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Corps. He was 5 feet 5 and seven eighths inches tall, weighed 135 pounds, had blue eyes, dark brown hair, and a fresh complexion.
He was appointed Lance-Corporal in 2/Yorkshire Regiment 1 March 1912.
Given the lack of specific biographical data, no unique birth record could be identified in GRO indexes.
(Refs: WO 329/2440 p 74; WO 329/953 p 519
Regimental Enlistment Records, Richmond GHG vol XX p 8
The Green Howards In The Great War, [Wylly] pp 43-5)

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