306122 Sergeant

WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSON

VC, MC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BORN: 15^th October 1890, Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

1891 Census: Has them living at 1, Court 3, Bridge Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire. Son of Frederick (Housepainter) and Hanna Johnson, they had seven children at this time, namely, Frederick, Annie, Charles, Harry, William, Ernest and George.

1901 Census: Son of Frederick (Housepainter) and Hanna Johnson, they had seven children, Frederick, Annie, Charles, Harry, William, Ernest and George, aged between 7 and 20 years old, all living at 1, Court 3, Bridge Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

SERVED: 1/5^th Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys)

DATE OF GAZETTE: 14^th December, 1918.

V.C. CITATION: For most conspicuous bravery at Ramicourt on the 3rd of October, 1918.When his Platoon was held up by a nest of enemy machine guns at very close range, Sgt. Johnson worked his way forward under very heavy fire, and single-handed charged the post, bayoneting several gunners and capturing two machine guns. During this attack he was severely wounded by a bomb, but continued to lead forward his men.

Shortly afterwards, the line was once more held up by machine guns. Again he rushed forward and attacked the post singlehanded. With wonderful courage he bombed the garrison, put the guns out of action, and captured the teams.

He showed throughout, the most exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty.

He was also awarded the French Medaille Militaire.

He was in the Home Guard during World War II, but had to resign due to ill-health.

 

DIED: 25^th April, 1945.

BURIED: Redhill Cemetery, Nottingham. 

 

 

 

Medal entitlement

Victoria Cross

Military Medal MM

British War Medal 1914 - 1920

Victory Medal 1914 - 1919

King George VI Coronation Medal 1937

Medaille Militaire France

The grave of William Henry Johnson VC

Redhill Cemetery, Nottingham

W. H. Johnson, VC.

 Talks and meetings with Mr Keith Johnson, the grandson of W H Johnson VC, came about after the Committee’s annual inspection of all the Nottinghamshire VC graves in 2011, and the photograph which was published in the Nottingham Evening Post of the Committee with The Lord Mayor of Nottingham at that time, Councillor Brian Grocock, at the grave of his Grandfather. Keith realised that some work needed to be done to the plot, especially with the increased number of people who were now visiting the grave of this local hero in addition to members of the family, and so he arranged for necessary work to be carried out at his expense.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The restoration of the grave came to the attention of the Committee and, at a subsequent meeting, it was voted unanimously to make a contribution of half the cost of remedial work to the grave of W H Johnson VC, at Redhill Cemetery, Arnold, Nottingham. This work had been successfully carried out by D & M Monumental Masons, Redhill Cemetery Works, Mansfield Rd Arnold  Nottingham NG5 8LS.

On Friday, 7^th October, 2011, the Committee attended the presentation of a cheque to Keith Johnson, at Rushcliffe Borough Council Civic Centre, West Bridgford.

On behalf of The Nottingham & Nottinghamshire Victoria Cross Committee, the presentation of the cheque was made by the Mayor of Rushcliffe, Councillor Gordon Moore, who was accompanied by his wife Georgia, and The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Irving Korn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Committee also presented Mr Johnson with a booklet which contained all the documents and photographs found during research, along with four CD’s containing this information which he could pass on to other members of his family, and a few items that had been collected during a visit to the site of his Grandfather’s VC action, which had been located by research prior to a successful WW1 Battlefield trip earlier on in the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Johnson thanked the Mayor and members of the Committee for what they had done, and went on to explain that his Grandfather had been very special to him, and that he was very proud of him. He said that he had lived with him for some time following his own father being hospitalised for nearly three years during and after the Second World War, when his legs had been amputated due to frostbite whilst on active service. He added that although his Grandfather’s VC and medals were in the Sherwood Foresters’ Museum, he had a very special memento of him, a 22 carat gold pocket watch and chain which had been beautifully engraved with his name, and presented to him on his return home after the First World War, by the Wigan Coal & Iron Company.

 

The Committee would like to thank The Mayor and his wife, Georgia, and The Deputy Mayor, for making the presentation, and to extend thanks to Ruth Fulford, the Mayor’s Secretary, for organising refreshments, and for looking after us all so well.

 

 

 

The Mayor of Rushcliffe, Councillor Gordon Moore.

The Mayor's Charity Copied from the Rushcliffe website

During their year in office, the Mayor normally supports a local charity or organisation.

This year The Mayor’s Charity is

 

 

 

 

 

Nottingham

Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre, in the grounds of the City Hospital, offers a calm uplifting space for anyone affected by cancer.

 Maggie’s offers emotional and psychological support, practical information on benefits and nutrition, as well as courses to help cope with stress and anxiety The Mayor would appreciate any donations for this worthwhile cause.

Cheques should be made payable to Rushcliffe Borough Council, with the words ‘The Mayor of Rushcliffe’s Charity Appeal 2011/12' on the reverse, and sent to the Mayor, c/o The Mayor's Secretary at Rushcliffe Borough Council, Civic Centre, Pavilion Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5FE.

 

Welcome to Maggie's Nottingham.

 

Maggie's Nottingham forms part of the Joy of Living campaign: we are working towards raising £3 million for this Centre which will be built at City Hospital Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

The campaign to build a Maggie’s Centre in Nottingham has got off to a tremendous start, with great support from the many people who want to have a Maggie’s and its programme of cancer support at their hospital.

The centre is under construction and is beginning to take shape on its site at the City Hospital Campus. Read the latest update from the Nottingham Post.

Maggie's Nottingham opens on Wednesday 2 November 2011 - everyone who has supported us is welcome to come along and visit between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.

To build this new Maggie’s, we need to raise £3 million. We need your support to build Maggie’s Nottingham and to have it open, free of charge, for anyone who needs it.  Please join our campaign. For further information, please contact Jillian Steele, jillian.steele@maggiescentres.org or the Community Fundraiser Sharon King, sharon.king@maggiescentres.org or call 0115 8718693

http://www.maggiescentres.org/centres/nottingham/introduction.html