Satley St Cuthbert
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Mark Johnson, one of 8 known children, was the eldest of 5 sons, he had 1 elder and 2 younger sisters. His father Benjamin and mother Sarah Jane Ayre were both born in 1851 at Cornsay, County Durham, they were married in 1876 in the district of Lanchester. They settled at Burns Terrace, Cornsay, where Mark was born in 1879, also his elder sister Sarah Ann in 1877. Ten years later they had moved to Cornsay Village and had a further 4 children, Mary Jane born 1882, George Christopher 1884, Benjamin Jnr 1886 and William Charles 1889. Daughter Esther and son Albert born 1893 and 1896 respectively were also born at Cornsay. Benjamin Snr supported his family employed as a stone mason until his death, February 27th 1901, he was interred at St. Cuthbert’s churchyard, Satley.
Mark (24) a stone mason and his brother George (17) a boot maker supported their mother and siblings, with the exception of Benjamin who had left the family home and was living at Carrville, Durham, in the home of his employer, William Love, a butcher, for whom he was an assistant. By 1911 the remainder of the family had left Cornsay and were living at 7, North Terrace Oxhill. Mark (32) plied his trade employed by a builder, Albert (15) was an architect’s pupil, William Charles (23) who had been employed as a coal miner below ground was out of work due to illness, unfortunately he died, September 7th 1914, and was buried in the family grave with his father.
Mark enlisted in 1914 at Annfield Plain and was assigned as Private 8989 Durham Light infantry, joining his regiment at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, where he was posted to the 5th Battalion. Along with the other new recruits, that had been divided into four companies, he trained for the next 9 months at Ravensworth and Gateshead for active service overseas. With a change of service number, he departed for the Western Front as of January 1916 as Private 200910, where he was posted to the 1/5th Battalion in the field attached to the 150th Brigade, 50th (Northumbrian) Division, in the trenches of the Ypres salient at Armentieres and Kemmel until August 1916. During September they were moved south to the Somme participating in the attacks at Prue Trench north of High Wood sustaining heavy casualties. In Spring 1917 they transferred to the Arras sector, the 1/5th fought at the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th, remaining in the sector until October 1917 when they returned to the Belgian front.
Private 200910 Mark Johnson was killed in action, July 13th 1917 and interred at Heninel Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France, grave B.23. The cemetery was begun by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division Burial Officer in April 1917 and was used by fighting units until November 1918. Private Johnson was 38 years of age and single.
As per his will, his mother Sarah Jane received all monies due to him by the Army for distribution in equal parts to her and his siblings. This was completed with the exception of 6 shillings 8 pence, as the family were unable to trace the whereabouts of his brother George Christopher, the funds were returned to the Army. His mother also received a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at their home address of 9, Prospect Terrace, Annfield Plain, County Durham. Probate was granted at Durham, September 26th 1917, to his brother Alfred, a draftsman, of the same address, in the sum of 609 pounds 3 shillings 7 pence.
All the Johnson brothers were eligible to serve during WW1, however, the only other record to have survived is that of Mark’s brother Benjamin Johnson Jnr who served as Private 72871 Yorkshire Regiment. He survived the conflict.
Sarah Jane Johnson nee Ayre died in 1921 aged 70 years, she is at rest in the family plot in St. Cuthbert’s churchyard, Satley, County Durham, which also bears a dedication to son Mark.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
In St. Cuthbert’s Churchyard, Satley, there is a family grave, it reads;
In Loving Memory
Of
BENJAMIN
The Beloved Husband Of
SARAH JANE JOHNSON
Who died 27th February 1901
Aged 50 Years
Also of The Above
SARAH JANE JOHNSON
Who Died 8th March 1921
Aged 69 Years
Also Of Their Sons
WILLIAM CHARLES
Who Died 7th September 1914
Aged 26 Years
MARK
Who Was Killed In Action In France
13th July 1917 Aged 38 Years
Also Their Youngest Son
ALBERT
Who Died 6th Feb. 1962
Aged 66 years
Interred at Manchester
Also MARY JANE
Beloved Daughter of Above
Who Died 4th July 1968
Aged 87 Years
Mark Johnson is remembered in Satley on S116.01 and in Annfield Plain on A38.11
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 181
