Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Robert Johnson was born 1896 in Romanby, North Yorkshire, the son of Robert and Ann Johnson, one of 8 children, 6 boys and 2 girls. In 1901 his father was working in Northallerton, where they lived, as a general labourer. John Robert’s family stayed in Northallerton, he however moved to the Ferryhill area where he met and married Florence May Hodgson, November 28th 1914, in Ferryhil. They set up home at 14 Chapel Row, Ferryhill Station and soon welcomed a daughter Ada Winifred May born June 19th 1915, John Robert worked as a railway plate layer
John Robert Johnson enlisted August 21st 1915 and was assigned as Private 19850 to the 7th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment. The 7th Battalion first landed in Boulogne, July 1915, he remained in England undergoing training until the battalion was mobilised and sent to France March 7th 1916 attached to the 50th Brigade, 17th Division. The Division served on the Western Front and participated in 1916 on the Somme.
October 18th 1916 a Court of Enquiry was assembled at Hebuterne, by order of Lt, - Col. F. A Clive, commanding the 7th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, into the death of Private 19850 J. R. Johnson and the wounding of Pte. R. Taylor and Pte. C. Jennison, all of the 7th Battalion. Several of the men made witness statements as to the circumstances that led to the evens of the early morning of October 17th. In the early part of the night it was dark and raining, later when the weather cleared patrols were sent out but the Companies in the front line were not made aware of this. No fewer than 10 witnesses reported having seen two men in the vicinity of (trench) Wood Street towards the communication trench in front of the Lewis - Gun post. They were challenged repeatedly and upon not receiving any response as to their identity the N. C. O. ordered shots to be fired, both men dropped. It was later reported to L/Cpl Irwin that one man was wounded and one missing from the listening post in front of the Lewis - gun. Private Johnson was sent to find the missing man. When he returned he reported that Pte Taylor was wounded and it was later found that the “A” Coy gun post at the head of Wood Street had fired. Private Johnson also reported to have been fired upon whilst returning to the dugouts despite answering that he was, “East Yorks”. Private Johnson again went out with Pte Sanderson to retrieve Pte Taylor and whilst they were stooping down to assist him, there was a single rifle shot and Private Johnson was killed, having been shot through the mouth. Pte Sanderson gave witness that he was unable to say from which direction the fire came. The Court concluded upon the evidence presented that L/Cpl Wood had been fully justified in ordering fire after amply challenging the party. Secondly that the whole incident was due to the listening post not replying sufficiently loudly to the challenge as to not reveal to the enemy the identity of their unit. Lt - Col Clive also accepted some responsibility for the events as it was he who, “did not remember to warn the 7th Company on the right”, that patrols were out”.
Private 19850 John Robert Johnson was declared to have been killed in action, November 16th 1916, this conflicts with the date of November 17th mention in the Court papers. He is interred at Hebuterne Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave I. U. 3. His widow paid 4 shillings and 8 pence for an addition inscription to be added to his gravestone, it reads,” Till The Day Breaks”.
Florence also received his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal along with a pension for herself and her daughter. Florence May Johnson remarried in Sedgefield, March 1919, to Alfred M. Johnson, John Robert's younger brother. Ada Winifred May Johnson died at the age of eleven in Sedgefield, June 1927.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Robert Johnson is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12
