The AIF Project

John Heber JOHNSON

Regimental number280
Place of birthColac, Victoria
SchoolColac State School and Ellemenyt State School, Victoria
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationClerk
AddressBeeac, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26
Next of kinSamuel Heber Johnson, Beeac, Victoria
Enlistment date27 February 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name13th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron
AWM Embarkation Roll number10/18/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A34 Persic on 28 May 1915
Regimental number from Nominal RollCommissioned
Rank from Nominal RollLieutenant
Unit from Nominal Roll14th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Mention in Despatches


Recommendation date: 16 August 1917

Military Cross


Recommendation date: 29 September 1917

Military Cross


Recommendation date: 26-30 March 1918

Bar to Military Cross


Recommendation date: 26 October 1917

Bar to Military Cross or Companion of the Distinguished Service Order


Recommendation date: 8 April 1918

Mention in Despatches


Awarded, and gazetted, 'London Gazette', second Supplement, No. 30448 (28 December 1917); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 57 (18 April 1918).

FateKilled in Action 2 May 1918
Place of death or woundingVillers-Bretonneux, France
Age at death30
Age at death from cemetery records30
Place of burialCrucifix Corner Cemetery (Plot VII, Row D, Grave No. 5), Villers-Bretonneux, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
73
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Commemorated in Beeac Cemetery, Victoria. Parents: Samuel Heber (d. 27 August 1917, aged 66; bu. Beeac) and Jane (d. 21 February 1944, aged 90; bu. Beeac) JOHNSON, Olive Bank, Beeac, Victoria. Native of Colac, Victoria
Medals

Distinguished Service Order

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In the capacity of battalion intelligence officer, he located the enemy outposts in bright moonlight over an unknown country, and guided the battalion to a position from which the enemy was easily expelled at daylight with numerous casualties. On another occasion, by working over a mile of "No Man's Land" in broad daylight, he gained valuable information about our own and the enemy's dispositions.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15
Date: 4 February 1919

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He obtained information from the firing line, and established liaison with the flank under a very heavy barrage after his brigade had taken over an additional 500 yards of the frontage. Two nights afterwards he made a valuable reconnaissance in connection with a minor operation.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 150
Date: 24 September 1918

Family/military connectionsBrother: [279] 2nd Lt Arthur Joseph JOHNSON, 2nd Machine Gun Bn, returned to Australia, 7 February 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Medals: Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Print format    


© The AIF Project 2024, UNSW Canberra. Not to be reproduced without permission.