Name
Harold Hubert John Johnson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/12/1915
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19999
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary the Virgin, Stocking Pelham
Pre War
Harold Hubert John Johnson was born in Stocking Pelham, the sixth of seven children of John Johnson, a farmer, and Mary Ann (nee Lawrence). He was baptised in Stocking Pelham on 21st February 1892. They lived in Berden Road, Stocking Pelham. Harold Hubert John was recorded as Harold in the 1911 census, and described as a farm labourer. He was unmarried.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Hertford. After training for several months in Surrey, on 28th August 1915 the 8th battalion entrained at Chobham for Folkestone, where they took ship for France, arriving at Boulogne on 30th August. Less than a month later, the battalion was committed to a support role in the Battle of Loos. The battalion spent much of October and November around Poperinghe. On 19th December 1915, in trenches at Forward Cottage, they were subjected to the first use of Phosgene gas, accompanied by heavy shelling. Nine men lost their lives. There was also intensive shelling, including gas shells, on the following day, December 20th, in which another nine men, including Harold Hubert John Johnson, were killed, and only one of whom was recovered for burial.
Additional Information
Harold Hubert’s brother Cecil Oliver was later killed in April of 1917, serving with Australian forces. The Medal Rolls Index records the award of the British Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1915 Star, for which the qualifying date was 30th August 1915.
Acknowledgments
Dr Stephen Bratt
