Frederick Henry Johnson

Frederick Henry Johnson VC (August 15, 1890 - November 26, 1917) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

An Old Boy of St Dunstan's College, Catford, he was 25 years old, and a Temporary Second Lieutenant in the 73rd Field Coy., Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 25 September 1915 during the attack on Hill 70 in the Battle of Loos, France, Second Lieutenant Johnson was with a section of his company, and although wounded in the leg, he stuck to his duty throughout the attack, led several charges on the German redoubt, and at a very critical time, under heavy fire, repeatedly rallied the men who were near to him. By his splendid example and cool courage he was mainly instrumental in saving the situation and in establishing firmly his part of the position which had been taken. He remained at his post until relieved.

He was killed in action, France, on 26 November 1917 and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing.

Further information

He later achieved the rank of Major.

The medal

Johnson's medal is owned by the widow of Conservative politician Alan Clarke.

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
*VCs of the First World War - The Western Front 1915 (Peter F. Batchelor & Christopher Matson, 1999)

External links

* [http://www.remuseum.org.uk/rem_his_vc.htm#1j Royal Engineers Museum] Sappers VCs
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9529269 Find-A-Grave profile for Frederick Henry Johnson]