Frederick Henry Johnson | |
---|---|
Buried | Remembered on the Cambrai Memorial |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Rank | Major |
Unit | Royal Engineers |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Awards | Victoria Cross |
Frederick Henry Johnson VC (15 August 1890 – 26 November 1917) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 25 years old, on 25 September 1915 during the attack on Hill 70 in the Battle of Loos, when he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Details
An Old Boy of St Dunstan's College, Catford, Johnson was Second Lieutenant in the 73rd Field Coy., Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army.
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in the attack on Hill 70 on 25th Sept., 1915. Second Lieutenant Johnson was with a section of his company of the Royal Engineers. 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 very heavy fire, repeatedly rallied the men who were near 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 in the evening.
— The London Gazette, 16 November 1915[1]
He later achieved the rank of Major and was killed in action, France, on 26 November 1917 and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing.
The medal
Johnson's medal is owned by the widow of Conservative politician Alan Clarke.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Johnson,Frederick Henry, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- 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)