Pte 57935 William John Johnson

• Age: 27
• From: London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

William John Johnson was born in 1890 in Fulham, London. He was the son of Francis and Sophia Johnson (nee White) who were married on the 12th May 1874 at St Paul's Church, Wilton Place, Francis was a groom of 84 Eaton Square, Sophia from 37 Belgrave Mews. 

His father died in the March quarter of 1916, aged 68.

William enlisted in the London Divisional Cyclist Company as Private 632. Following a transfer he was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57935 when he was killed in action on the 09th April 1917, aged 27, during the Battle of Arras.

Details of the circumstances the 18th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up” for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded.

William John's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

His Soldiers Effects and Pension were sent to his wife Alice Beatrice. 
 
Alice remarried on the 18th July 1918 to RAF Sgt Hubert William Speaks at St Luke's Church, Hammersmith, they went on to have sons Kenneth Hubert in 1919 and Roy William in 1927.

She appears on the 1939 register at 10 Tamarisk Square, Hammersmith, her date of birth shown as 21st October 1894. She died in the September quarter of 1957, aged 62. 

His mother died in the December quarter of 1923, aged 72 .

We currently have no further information on William John Johnson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.