| Notes: | MMP. Awarded the 1915 Star, Victory and War Medals. First served abroad (2a) Balkans should be Gallipoli, 9/7/1915. Shown as (1) France, 27/5/15 to 15/7/15 on medal roll page B902. He was born in Manchester and enlisted and resided in Leeds. Died at Sea. He was drowned when a cross channel cargo vessel HMS Hythe which had worked out of Dover for the South East & Chatham Railway Co. before the war and had been converted into a naval mine sweeper and used as a ferry. The ship left Mudros Bay on the 29/10/1915 sailing for Gallipoli and was in collision with HMS Sarnia at 20.10 hrs off Cape Helles. The Hythe sank drowning 129 men. P/1725 L/Cpl Morriss, MFP, P/1756 L/Cpl Pollitt, MFP, P/1760 L/Cpl Porter, MFP and P/1755 L/Cpl Venn, MFP were also drowned. The appear to be reinforcements as all their No's are similar. Died between Mudros and Helles, Army Register of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929.
Info from Pension Index Cards:- Johnson, James Alfred, P/627, MMP,, Pte/A/Sgt, 28/10/16 drowned after collision at sea, WFJ.6, 4/W/1802, Widow: Amelia Elizabeth, 12 Green Mark Place, Beeston Hill, Leeds, child Doreen Scobie, born 8/9/06, widow awarded 22/- per week 8/6/16. Also:- SB36-APW. Widows. 4/APW/3084 & 1600. Widow: Jonhnson, Amelia Elizabeth, born 1870, husband: Johnson, James Alfred, MMP, P/627, A/Sgt, widow awarded 31/- per week, Review 13/8/23£1-16-03.
James Alfred Johnson.
Extract from the Leeds Mercury 10 February 1915 - LEEDS MAN'S OPTIMISM.
Writing to his wife at 32, Greenmount Place. Beeston Hill, Leeds, Lance Corporal J. A Jonson, who is serving with the Military Mounted Police attached to the 4th Guards Brigade, says:-
"I suppose you will have read all about the second big battle. I can assure you it was pretty warm while it lasted. We read the account in the papers dated 26th and 27th; and it was a very good report, too. Personally, I dare not give you any particulars. I can only tell you that we are holding the position we captured.
Talk about bombardments! The shelling from the big guns was terrific - English, French and German guns - and the rifle fire! It was like hell. One continuous fire."
" Ah, well! the Kaiser will remember his birthday. They tried hard to take a certain town, but failed. We made lots of German prisoners and from what they say they are glad to get away from the trenches."
"Our chaps behaves splendidly through it all. The officers of our brigade are gallant men and good leaders and you may be sure they will hold every inch we have gained, and victory will soon be ours."
"Well I must not tell you any more, only that I am still keeping well, and looking forward to the day when we shall all come marching home again, as the song says."
"By the way, I saw three German prisoners with the ribbon of the Iron Cross on their breasts. I suppose they got it for some of the dirty work which I have too often seen of late. When we make them prisoners we treat them like human beings. Believe me, they are glad when we capture them. They know we treat them well."
The above letter, which was written on February 1st, is of particular interest, for on January 20th a man in khaki called upon Mrs. Johnson and told her that her husband had been killed in action. He incidentally went off with some money and medals belonging to Mrs. Johnson and was subsequently sentenced at Leeds Police Court, to three months hard labour.
Lance Corporal Johnson, who is a son of the late Lieutenant Colonel Johnson, of the Dragoons, spent several years in the South African Constabulary forces and served in the South African war in Kitchener's Fighting Scouts. For his services he was given a lieutenancy. At the outbreak of war he was employed as a timekeeper at the Queen's Hotel. Leeds.
Extract from the Leeds Mercury 16 June 1915.
UNDER THE STRAIN - LEEDS MAN'S CALL TO OTHERS.,
Lance Corporal J A Johnson, a Leeds man, who is serving with the Military Mounted Police and after being wounded and suffering from shock is no at a base camp, writes to his wife in the Beeston Hill district as follows
" I had it pretty stiff whilst I was a the firing line and had many very narrow escapes. I had a feeling after that last bombardment at Richbourg L'Avone that if I went into another like it I should not escape so luckily. Several chaps I spoke to only an hour before it were killed and some others of them have since died of their wounds.l None of the had any idea that their time was so near. During the time I spent amongst it I thought several times that I should never come out of it alive."
"I am now out of it for a time and I think I have done my share. Let others come forward and do their little bit
Extract from the Sheerness Guardian and East Kent Advertiser 20 November 1915.
THE LOSS OF HMS HYTHE - 143 SOLDIERS DROWNED.
Many Sappers formerly stationed in St. Pauls Schoolroom.
The following casualties are reported as a result of the accident to HM Fleet Auxiliary Hythe. Many of the Sappers of the Royal Engineers were formerly stationed in St. Paul's Schoolroom, Sheerness. Unless otherwise stated the men are Privates:- 1st Reserve Regt. of Cavalry attached Military Mounted Police, Cooper, 10810, C. Military Foot Police, Morris, 1752, L/Cpl, H. Pollitt, 1756, L/Cpl, T. Porter, 1760, L/Cpl, M. Scott, 1750, L/Cpl, J. Venn, 1755, L/Cpl, G H. Military Mounted Police. Johnson, 627, A/Sgt, J A.
It was announced by the Admiralty at the end of October that the Hythe, an auxiliary sweeper had sunk during the night of October 28-29 after collision with another of HM Ships off Gallipoli, and the two Army Officers and 143 men were missing in addition to the crew.
Extract from The Scotsman 18 November 1915.
Lost Abroad The Hythe. Drowned: Military Mounted Police - Johnson, 627, A/Sgt, J A. |
