RootsChat.Com
General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: BarryJohn on Monday 15 December 08 13:58 GMT (UK)
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Dear ROOTSCHAT friends:
I am looking for information about my late great-uncle, Alec JOHNSON, who was a casualty in WW1.
He was born c.1890 in the Somerset village of Weston in Gordano to John Charles JOHNSON and Elizabeth Ann (née) WILLIAMS. He was the youngest of three children. The oldest was my grandmother, Marguerite Ethel JOHNSON then her sister Mary Winifred JOHNSON.
I am told he was killed in action on the Western Front of France/Belgium/Flanders on June 26, 1916, age 26. Apparently he was awarded the Mons Star and listed in the Honour Roll in the Birmingham Hall of Memory. Unfortunately I don’t know any regimental information.
At the moment, I have left an enquiry with CWGC, but if anyone at ROOTSCHAT can advise where I can find a list of Mons Star recipients, I may be able to at least find out uncle Alec's regiment, or verification of his last resting place.
Many thanks.
BarryJohn
(Goderich, Ontario, Canada)
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another great site for WW1 info is:
http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php
you can post like on RC.
welcome anyway - there may well be someone to help here. (this may be moved to another board I think?)
Diddy
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The Birmingham memorial book is available online at:
http://www.hallofmemory.co.uk/
the only likely one is :
Johnson, A.J. pte Somerset light infantry. WW1
is this him? did he have a middle name?
can't find him in the CWGC or on A* military records.
Diddy
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Hello diddymiller: (15/12/08)
Thanks for getting in touch and providing me with some valuable clues. I investigated the Birmingham Book of Memory Web site and located the appropriate image of the page listing JOHNSON with forenames beginning with the letter A. Unfortunately, I don't know if grand-uncle Alec had a middle name. Logically, however, he may have enlisted with the Somerset Light Infantry - his home county. I did check out the Somerset Light Infantry dedicated regimental Web site, but no luck in zeroing in on individual WW1 casualties. I have made an independent enquiry with CWGC and awaiting their reply.
Appreciate your efforts in helping me.
Kindest regards.
BarryJohn
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HI
Just curious do you have your grand uncle Alec in any of the census. I've seen his sisters farmed out to relatives in the 1891 census. Marguerites surname is spelt Jansen on the image.
Wendy
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HI
Did John Charles Johnson pass away? I noticed a remarriage for Elizabeth Ann Johnson nee Williams in 1895 to a William Harmon visible in the 1901 census with her mother Emily.
Cant see Elizabeth yet in the 1891 census though to be able to pinpoint your grand uncle Alec.
Wendy
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Hi Barry and welcome to RootsChat ! :D
Can you tell us where you got his date of death and the other information ?
Was Alec short for Alexander or Alick ? tell us all you know about him if you can ! I'm not finding anything either !!
Annie :)
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Hi Barry John
I would also try a post in the Somerset section for someone local to check the village memorial for you, especially as there is some doubt about him being a WW1 casualty. If he is listed it may give some clues as to any middle names, and may even give his regiment.
Ken
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Hello Wendy, Annie and Ken: (17/12/08)
Many thanks for your replies , questions and suggestions. They are most appreciated. I will try to answer all your queries in this one message.
Very little is known about great-uncle Alec - even his actual name is suspect, being family word of mouth knowledge only. The only clue I have are, again, orally handed down, indicate that he was the only son of John Charles JOHNSON and Elizabeth Ann JOHNSON (née) WILLIAMS. Uncle Alec is supposed to have been born c. 1890. I am unaware if he was given a middle name. I am unable to find any census evidence of his birth, marriage (if any) and all I know about his death is the alleged report that he was killed in action on the Western Front on June 26, 1916, age 26.
Concerning Wendy's question about the demise of John Charles JOHNSON. Great-grandfather (paternal) John is, himself, an enigma. Nobody knows for sure of his origins except it's most likely he hailed from Scandinavia. Two logical countries are Norway and Denmark. It's construed that his name was originally John Carl JOHNSON (Norwegian) and the Carl later Anglicised to Charles. Another theory is that his name was originally Jan JANSEN (Danish) and later Anglicised. I have seen a census entry (as had Wendy) of Alec's elder sister's surname as being JANSEN. Curiously enough, however, on the same sister's birth certificate (March 21, 1885), her father's full name is listed as John Carl JOHNSON , and on her wedding certificate (May 17, 1908), her father's full name is listed as John Charles JOHNSON.
I'm more inclined to favour the Norwegian ancestry and I did make some enquiries with the Norwegian genealogical society, without any luck. John C. JOHNSON's wedding certificate (March 13, 1882) shows him identified as John Carl JOHNSON and his father's name as Arno (or Arne) JOHNSON, occupation farmer. John Charles JOHNSON was, by profession, a mariner - more specifically - a steward. The absence of a death certificate or entry (as far as I can determine) may indicate that he could have been lost at sea. For sure, as Wendy discovered, Elizabeth Ann JOHNSON remarried to a William HARMAN and had a son by him (Edmond HARMAN). The apparent dislocation of the family unit may be a reason for Elizabeth's daughters, Marguerite and Mary to be "adopted" for a while by other family members.
Ken's idea of posting my original message on the Somerset section of RootsChat is very sound. I'm not quite sure how to navigate to such a section on the Web site - some pointers, please.
In a nutshell: Like yourselves, I've been unable to find any BMD or census evidence of great-uncle Alec JOHNSON. My only information is family oral lore and is subject to misinterpretation. I have enquired with CWGC and await their reply. John Charles JOHNSON's death notice is also elusive, but could be construed as happening before 1895 when Elizabeth remarried. I have looked on ships' registers (crew lists) and anything applicable to possible deaths at sea, without luck. However, more seasoned researchers may be able to suggest other avenues of approach.
Your help and interest is most appreciated.
BarryJohn
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HI BarryJohn
Thanks for the update.
Have you or would you purchase the second marriage of Elizabeth to Mr Harmon to see how she showed herself as to whether she was a widow or not?
Wendy
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Hi Wendy: (21/12/08)
As yet, I haven't sent for, or purchased, the second marriage certificate for Elizabeth Ann JOHNSON. I do know, however, that her marriage to William HARMAN took place in June, 1895 in Bedminster, Somerset. This is a good clue and one that I will pursue.
Their one child, a son, Edmund Charles HARMAN, was born in December, 1898, and the birth was registered in Bedminster, Somerset.
Thanks for the tip!
BarryJohn
:)