Name
William Johnson
Circa 1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/12/1917
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
200907
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st/5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RAMLEH WAR CEMETERY
X. 8.
Israel and Palestine (including Gaza)
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not on the Walsworth memorials
Pre War
William was born around 1893 in Arlesey, Beds. and his parents were James and Elizabeth Johnson.
In 1901 the family were living at Primrose Lane, Arlesey, Beds. Present were both parents: James (27) and Elizabeth (26), with James working as a cement yard labourer. Their children were: William (8) and Mary (1).
By 1911 the family had moved to Straw Street, Arlesey. Present were both parents, James now working as a general labourer. The census recorded they had been married for 18 years with 4 children, of whom 1 had died. All the children listed above, with William, now 18, aksi working as a general labourer. Now present was Joseph (9).
William married Margaret Johnson.
Officially he was recorded as living in Hitchin, Herts., when he enlisted in Bedford.
Wartime Service
William was originally Private 5299, 5th Bn. Beds. Regiment and was probably re-numbered to 200907 early in 1917.
William died in Palestine of pneumonia in No. 147 Field Ambulance, Ramleh.
He was buried in Row 10, Grave 8 in the Ramleh Military Cemetery, Palestine (now Israel) on the 29th December 1917.
Additional Information
Although now headstone inscription was requested his widows address was recorded as Standalone Cottage, Walsworth, Hitchin, Herts.
Margaret remarried and became Margaret Worbey of Walsworth, Hitchin, Herts.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
