James Johnson

Second Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion. Northumberland Fusiliers whilst attached to 36 Battalion

Register No.: 644 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank: Second Lieutenant all Second Lieutenants →
Unit: 2nd Battalion. Northumberland Fusiliers whilst attached to 36 Battalion all Northumberland Fusiliers VCs →
Date of action: 14 October 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
Conflict / campaign: First World War
London Gazette: 26th December, 1918 on this day → all of 1918 →
Born: 31st December 1889 at Widdrington, Northumberland
Died: 23rd March 1943 at Plymouth, Devon
Memorial / grave: not known

Digest of citation

On 14th October, 1918 to the south-west of Wez Macquart, France, during operations by strong patrols, Second Lieutenant Johnson repelled frequent counter-attacks. For six hours, under extremely heavy fire, he continued to repulse the enemy. When, at length, he was given the order to retire he was the last person to leave the advanced position. As he did so he carried a wounded soldier. Three times this officer returned to the position and brought in badly wounded men under intense enemy machine-gun fire

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

JOHNSON, James. (reg No. 644).

Second Lieutenant. 2nd Battalion. Northumberland Fusiliers whilst attached to 36 Battalion.

London Gazetted on 26th December, 1918.

Born on 31st December 1889 at Widdrington, Northumberland.

Died on 23rd March 1943 at Plymouth, Devon.

Memorial not known.

Digest of Citation reads: On 14th October, 1918 to the south-west of Wez Macquart, France, during operations by strong patrols, Second Lieutenant Johnson repelled frequent counter-attacks. For six hours, under extremely heavy fire, he continued to repulse the enemy. When, at length, he was given the order to retire he was the last person to leave the advanced position. As he did so he carried a wounded soldier. Three times this officer returned to the position and brought in badly wounded men under intense enemy machine-gun fire.

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