JOHNSON W.

William Henry Johnson

Lance Corporal PO/48(S)

Portsmouth Bn. R.N. Div., Royal Marine Light Infantry

William Henry Johnson died on 6th May 1915*, aged 31 years, and is remembered on the HELLES MEMORIAL, Turkey.

Lance Corporal Johnson was one of "Kitcheners Marines", who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regt) to the RMLI.

"600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI), and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI, and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY/200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters, 200 of which were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited, and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1(S) to CH/200(S)."

He was born c1883 at Skegby, to parents John and Ann Johnson. John Johnson was a Coal Miner, and a native of Blidworth. On the 1891 census the family were living on Mansfield Road, Skegby.

William Henry Johnson was also the husband of Georgina Johnson, who later resided at 14 Byron Street, Mansfield, Notts.

Notts Free Press - In Memoriam - 28th April 1916

Notts Free Press - In Memoriam - 3rd May 1918

Johnson - In loving memory of my dear husband, Lance-Corporal W. H. Johnson, R.M.L.I., Portsmouth Battalion, of Skegby, who was killed in action in the Dardanelles, 28th April 1915. I often sit and think of thee, 'Tis sweet to breath thy name; In life I loved you dearly, In death I do the same. - From his loving wife and daughter Dorothy.

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Research by Heather Faulkes
Details of the "Kitcheners Marines" kindly provided by Des Turner
Date of death on CWGC differs from that given in newspaper by a few days.