Name
John Vivian Byrne-Johnson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/08/1916
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Rifle Brigade
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VERMELLES BRITISH CEMETERY
VI. D. 34.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of John (late Lieutenant Royal Dragoon Guards) and Edith (nee DYES) BYRNE-JOHNSON of Watford.
His parents married 1892 in the Kensington, London, district. Edith died 17 September 1955 in Northampton aged 88.
John Vivian was born about 1894 in Kandy, Ceylon and possibly known as Vivian.
He has an entry in the National Probate Calendar.
At the time of the 1901 Census, he is possibly still in Ceylon. On the 1911 Census, at school aged 16, he lived in Watford, with his widowed mother and no siblings.
Wartime Service
He was appointed Second Lieutenant 23 January 1914, but held the temporary rank of Captain from 26 October 1915. He was mentioned in despatches and in the London Gazette 17 February 1915, and was killed in action. His next-of-kin was his mother of Watford.
Additional Information
There are articles about John in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 2 September 1916 and 9 September 1916. There is a discrepancy here - the 1911 Census quite clearly states that Edith was a widow, but the Observer article states that John senior is fighting with the Australians.
Vivian is also commemorated on the family headstone in Watford Cemetery. His part of the inscription reads:
ALSO TO THE DEAR MEMORY OF HER (Louisa Dyke) GRANDSON CAPTAIN J. VIVIAN BYRNE-JOHNSON, 2ND BATT. THE RIFLE BRIGADE. KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE AUG. 22ND 1916. AGED 22 YEARS.
BURIED IN THE MALLEY'S BRITISH CEMETERY
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
