Name
Thomas William Johnson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/11/1918
32
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Company Quartermaster Sergeant
3611
Australian Engineers
5th Division Signal Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HITCHIN CEMETERY
West Grave 164
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Pre War
Thomas William Johnson was born in St. Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria to parents William Joseph and Catherine Helena Johnson (nee Brodie). His birth was registered in 1887 in the district of St. Kilda. He attended St Joseph’s at South Yarra, Victoria.
The 1909 Australian Electoral Roll for the division of Kooyong, subdivision of Malvern recorded Thomas William Johnson, Clerk, of 18 Bride Street, Malvern. Also listed at that address – Catherine Ellen Johnson, Home Duties; William Joseph Johnson, Gardener.
The 1912 Australian Electoral Roll for the division of Kooyong, subdivision of Malvern recorded Thomas William Johnson, Clerk, of 18 Gladstone Avenue, Malvern. Also listed at that address – Catherine Ellen Johnson, Home Duties; Margaret Johnson, Saleswoman; William Joseph Johnson, Gardener.
The 1914 Australian Electoral Rolls for the division of Henty, subdivision of Malvern recorded Thomas William Johnson, Clerk, of 18 Gladstone Avenue, Malvern. Also listed at that address – Catherine Ellen Johnson, Home Duties; Margaret Johnson, Saleswoman; William Joseph Johnson, Gardener.
The 1915 & 1916 Australian Electoral Rolls for the division of Henty, subdivision of Malvern recorded Thomas William Johnson, Clerk, of 18 Gladstone Avenue, Malvern. Also listed at that address – Catherine Ellen Johnson, Home Duties; William Joseph Johnson, Gardener.
Thomas William Johnson was a 29 year old, single, Clerk from 18 Gladstone Avenue, Malvern, Victoria when he enlisted on 22nd September, 1915 with the 2nd Divisional Signal Company of the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.). His service number was 3611 & his religion was Roman Catholic. His next of kin was listed as his father – Mr William Joseph Johnson, 18 Gladstone Avenue, Malvern, Victoria. Thomas Johnson stated his Attestation Papers that he had served for 1 year in Infantry – 5th Regiment Albert Park & 11 years Signal Engineers – 3rd Military District.
He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Ceramic (A40) on 23rd November, 1915, as Company Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas W. Johnson.
Wartime Service
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas W. Johnson was taken on strength of 5th Divisional Signal Company at Tel-el-Kebir on 9th March, 1916.
He was sent sick to Hospital at Ferry Post on 22nd May, 1916 and admitted to 1st Australian Stationary Hospital at Ferry Post on 25th May, 1916 with a bruised right foot. then transferred to No. 4 Hospital Train at Ismalia on 12th June, 1916 & admitted to British Red Cross Hospital at Montazah on 28th June, 1916. (The Hospital Admissions form records the following – No. 1 Stationary Hospital 1 May, 1916 – 30 May, 1916. No. 3 Australian General Hospital 30 May, 1916 – 21 June, 1916. Then Montazah 21 June, 1916 – 14 July, 1916.)
He was marched in from Hospital to Divisional Troops Depot at Tel-el-Kebir on 19th July, 1916. Then transferred to Pioneer Training Battalion on 19th August, 1916. He was transferred to No. 2 Detail Camp, Park House, Wiltshire, England on 18th August, 1916 from Pioneer Training Battalion (date as per Service Record file) and appointed to permanent cadre of Engineers Training Depot Signal Section at Hitchin, Hertfordshire on 16th September, 1916.
He was visited by a Travelling Medical Board in March, 1917 at Hitchin & placed in category B II. Then appointed to permanent base at Shefford on 22nd April, 1917.
On 16th July, 1917, it was recorded that Thomas William Johnson, of 2nd Divisional Signal Company, A.I.F., did not desire to make a Will.
He was again visited by a Travelling Medical Board on 10th October, 1917 & placed in category B III.
The address for father – as next-of-kin was altered on 4th December, 1917 to 2 Drysdale Street, Malvern, Melbourne, Victoria.
Thomas married Cissie A. Cox in the third quarter, 1918 in the district of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England.
On 20th September, 1918, he transferred back to 5th Divisional Signal Company at Tidworth, Wiltshire, then Mentioned in Despatches on 30th September, 1918. [“Mentioned in Despatches – is where a member of the armed forces has their name appearing in an official report written by a superior officer. The report is then sent to the high command, in which is described their gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.”]
He died at 2 pm on 10th November, 1918 at Depot Hospital, Clifton, Bedfordshire, England from Influenza & Pleurisy. (Burial Report states Date & place of death – “10.11.18. Signal School, Hitchin, Herts.”) and his death aged 32, was registered in the December quarter, 1918 in the district of Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, England.
A Medical Report by Dr W. T. Johnson, MD. BS Lond. MO AE.T.D. (Sig Secn) Clifton, Beds, dated 12th November, 1918 reads:
To the AD.M.S. AIF Depots in UK
I beg to submit Medical Report as per AAMC Order 679 of the 14/8/18 re death of Soldiers. With regard to the death of C.Q.M.S. Johnson, T.W. I have to report that I was called to see the deceased on Nov 4th and found him suffering from Influenza compensated by Pleurisy. His temp was 104° & respiratory rate rapid. He was admitted into Hospital & was seen daily by me till his death on Nov 10th 1918 at which I was present & had been for two hours previously.
His temp ranged between 103° & 104° for the first three days & then came down considerably. He was considerably better, but on Sunday morning a change for the worse took place & there were physical signs of Broncho pneumonia. Oxygen was administered but he succumbed at 2 pm.
The treatment prescribed by me was absolute rest in the horizontal position in bed. The medicinal treatment was a mixture containing …..He was a very delicate man & had not much reserve force & I understood that he had had a previous attack of Pleurisy. Everything possible was done for him by the AAMC staff & myself &* I request that the issue was unfavourable.
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas William Johnson was buried on 15th November, 1918 in Hitchin Cemetery, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England – Plot number W. 164 and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone. From the burial report of C.Q.M.S. Johnson - Coffin was good, Elm with brass fittings. The deceased soldier was accorded a full Military funeral, Firing Party, Bugler and Pallbearers being in attendance. The coffin was draped with the Union Jack, and surmounted by several beautiful wreaths sent from:- Realatives and Friends of the deceased soldier. The “Last Post” was sounded at the graveside, and the burial service conducted by the Chap Rev: McCleery, of Hitchin, Herts. A temporary oak cross has been erected by the A.I.F. London.
Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F. London were represented at the funeral.
Names of Relatives & friends present at the funeral – Wife, Father & Mother-in–law and three sisters-in-law. Also a Representative of the 5th Divisional Signal Company, A.I.F.
The Red Cross Wounded & Missing file for Company Quartermaster Sergeant T. W. Johnson contains a letter from Australian Engineer Training Depot (Signal Section) Clifton, Beds dated 20th December, 1918 which reads:
“Reference death of 3611, CQMS Johnson, T. W. – 5th Div, Sig. Co. The abovenamed N.C.O. died from Bronchial Pneumonia on 10.11.18 after 6 days’ illness.
He was buried with military honours at Hitchin Cemetery on 14.11.18. His widow, who resides at 29 Bedford street, Hitchin, was present, and everything possible was done for her.”
According to information provided by his father for the Roll of Honour – Thomas Willian Johnson “served in the Citizen Force for 10 years before the great war, and took a keen interest in the Signal Section to which he was attached, he also took a big interest in the Boy Scouts and was Scout Master of the Malvern district.”
In 1919 Company Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas William Johnson’s Statement of Service form was recorded with “Brought to notice of Secretary of Ste for War for valuable services rendered.”
Company Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas William Johnson was entitled to 1914/15 Star, British War Medal & the Victory Medal. A Memorial Scroll & Memorial Plaque were also sent to C.Q.M.S. Johnson’s Widow – Mrs Cissie A. Johnson, as the closest next-of-kin. (Scroll & Plaque issued in England in November, 1922).
Company Quartermaster Sergeant T. W. Johnson is commemorated on the Roll of Honour, located in the Hall of Memory Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia on Panel 25.
Additional Information
This information came from Cathy Sedgwick's excellent work for the ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/ and is used with her permission.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild, Cathy Sedgewick and https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/
