Service Number 204139
Service Army
Battalion 4th Brigade
Regiment Royal Field Artillery
Biography
On the 16th April 1915, the Wetherby News published a small section of one column entitled simply "COLLINGHAM": -
Alfred Johnson was born on the 14th March 1894, in Collingham, the son of Henry Johnson and his wife Sarah Ann Johnson. Henry and Sarah had 13 children and the family grew up in Collingham.
In 1911, Alfred was working as a beastman at the farm run by Bertie Blacker at Healaugh. Alfred was 17.
In 1916, Alfred enlisted and went into the reserve until the 17th January 1917, when he was called up in Harrogate, and he joined No. 1 Depot of the Royal Field Artillery. He then was posted to 40 Reserve Battery on the 28th January 1917. He spent a few days during this initial training in hospital suffering from scabies. Part of his further training took place on Salisbury plain and he overstayed his leave at Heytesbury from the 28th to the 30th July 1917 and was fined for overstaying his leave prior to overseas service.
Alfred embarked on the 11th September 1917 and sailed to join the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force. He joined that Force on the 20th November and on the 5th December 1917 he joined 4 Brigade Royal Field Artillery in Makina. Just after New Year 1918, on the 2nd January 1918, Alfred joined 7 Battery and then a few days later, on the 8th January 1918, Alfred joined B Battery, 213 Brigade RFA.
After service in Mesopotamia, Alfred re-embarked on the 21st May 1918 and sailed to Egypt, disembarking on the 8th June 1918. Alfred ended the war in Egypt and on the 25th March 1919, while in Palestine, Alfred was selected for retention. On the 10th August 1919, he was posted to A Battery 301 Brigade. Alfred was further posted to 2/89 Battery 16 Brigade. On the 2nd November 1919 he was back on board ship and sailed home, arriving on the 14th November 1919. Alfred was at 1 Reserve Brigade on the 2nd January 1920, before being at the Dispersal Centre on the 6th. Alfred was finally transferred to Class Z reserve on the 5th February 1920.
After the war, Alfred returned to the Wetherby area and in 1921, Alfred married Martha Stones in the Tadcaster area. The couple had at least one child, Robert. In 1939, Alfred was living at Highfield Villas, Wetherby.
Biography last updated 06 January 2020 22:14:54.
Sources
1911 Census. The National Archives. Class RG14 Piece 28362
First World War Medal Index Cards. The National Archives (WO372).
First World War Medal Index Rolls. The National Archives (WO329).
First World War British Army Service Records. The National Archives (WO363).
If you have any photographs or further details about this person we would be pleased to hear from you. Please contact us via: alan.berry@collinghamanddistrictwararchive.info