Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Wilfred Johnson was born 1892 in Sacriston, County Durham, one of 3 children, 1 boy, 1 girl, 1 deceased (gender unknown), born to Thomas Johnson 1868 Tockholes near Blackburn, Lancashire and Alice 1866 Leadgate, Durham, who were married in 1889 initially living at Daisy Hill where Thomas was a colliery fireman. By 1901 they had moved to 5 Wagtail Terrace, Craghead, Wilfred’s father was now employed as a stoker. At the age of 19 Wilfred was employed as a plumber and gas fitter below ground at the pit, his father, a stationary engine-man, they now lived at 16 Wylam Street, Craghead.
Before his enlistment Wilfred married a woman named Mary Hannah, he enlisted in Newcastle upon Tyne between November 1914 and March 1915. Assigned as Private 1030 Tyneside Irish, 25th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers which moved in March to Woolsington and together with the 24th,26th and 27th Battalions formed the 103rd Brigade, 34th Division. They came under orders of the War Office August 27th 1915, moved to Salisbury Plain at the end of the month and crossed to France, January 1916. The Battalion along with the 34th Division was engaged in the Battle of Albert July 1st to July 13th 1916, part of the Battles of the Somme. Wilfred was wounded in the line of duty and taken by field ambulance to the field hospital at Wimereux, headquarters of the Queen Mary’s Auxiliary Corps and along with Boulogne an important hospital centre. Private 1030 Wilfred Johnson Northumberland Fusiliers died of wounds July 8th 1916 and is interred at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave I. N. 26. The gravestones in this cemetery due to the sloping land and type of soil are laid flat, as opposed to erect, which is the norm. John McCrae, the author of the poem, In Flanders Fields is also buried there.
His wife Mary Hannah was his sole beneficiary and as such received all monies due to him and a pension along with his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to 45, North Terrace, Waterhouses, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Wilfred (Wilfrid) Johnson is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 C120.02 C120.04 and at Waterhouses W132.03
