Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He died from the effects of being gassed.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday April 5th, 1918

Official news has been received by Mr and Mrs Arthur Johnson of 16, Jackson Street, Coalville, that their third son, Corporal A. E. Johnson, of the R.F.A. died in France on March 25th, the cause not being stated. He was 20 years of age, and was formerly employed by Messrs. Coleman and Sons, in their furnishing department. His father works at Stableford’s and has two other sons serving in the Forces.

Coalville Times article - Friday April 12th, 1918.

THANKS

Mr and Mrs A. Johnson and family, of 16, Jackson Street, Coalville, desire to express their sincere thanks to all kind friends for much kind sympathy received on the occasion of the death of their third son, Corporal Arthur Edward Johnson, who died in France on March 25th, 1918. “Greatest love hath no man than this.”

Coalville Times article - Friday July 12th, 1918

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Further news has been received by Mr and Mrs Arthur Johnson, 16, Jackson Street, Coalville, concerning their son, Corporal Arthur Edward Johnson, Royal Field Artillery, who died at the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital, Doullens, France, on the 24th March, 1918 from wounds received in action and from gas. He had been in the army 2 ½ years, and fought in the Somme battle, July 1916.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 29th, 1918

MEMORIAL SERVICE

On Sunday evening a memorial service was held at the Coalville Wesleyan Chapel for four men formerly connected with the church who have fallen in action – Sergeant Cecil Bradshaw, Corporal A. E. Johnson, Sergeant Walter Lewis, M.M., and Private Henry Lewis (brothers). Mr W. Hall preached an appropriate sermon and the choir sang, “What are these?” Mrs Stocking nicely rendered the solo, “O rest in the Lord,” and Mr T. Frith read the Roll of Honour.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 14th, 1919

PROPOSED MEMORIAL AND THANKSGIVING FUND

Meetings are being held throughout the Ashby Wesleyan Circuit, to consider the inauguration of a war memorial and thanksgiving fund, and there was a gathering for this purpose in the Coalville Wesleyan Chapel on Saturday night, when Mr C. H. March presided over a fairly good attendance.

The details of the scheme are set forth in a circular which is being issued, and of which the following is a copy.

“To celebrate the end of the ‘great war’ and the coming of ‘peace’ the quarterly meeting of the Circuit decided by a unanimous vote to inaugurate a great ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund.’ The nation in the hours of danger has not counted any sacrifice of blood or treasure too great to hasten the time when all that we hold dear should be made secure from an unscrupulous foe. That end has been achieved. The victory is ours. In token of our gratitude to Almighty God, we desire to raise this ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’ to enable the churches in this Circuit more efficiently to carry on, and extend the Kingdom of God. We suggest that contributions may be given as a thank-offering for loved ones spared, or in memory of dear ones who have laid down their lives for us. There are also large numbers in the Circuit, who, because of the importance of their work, have escaped the horrors of the battlefield, and will be able to give substantially in thankful recognition of their privileges. Everyone, indeed, has received great blessing through the ministry of our church, and the debt we owe to our beloved Methodism is greater than we can tell. Therefore, we earnestly appeal to all our people to give hearty and generous support to the ‘Memorial and Thanksgiving Fund’. The first claim upon the income of the fund will be the clearing of the debt upon the Circuit houses, which amounts to £1,000, thus saving £44 per year in interest. The remainder of the income will be held at the disposal of the Circuit quarterly meeting for the benefit of the work of God in the Circuit. – William Hooper, William H. Wardle, B.A., and William Solomon (ministers), J. P. Adcock, J. P. (treasurer); W. J. Plowright and C. H. March (secretaries).”

During the meeting, Mr T. Frith read the Roll of Honour, which contained 99 names formerly connected with the church and Sunday School. Two have won the D.C.M. – Harry Beard and Edwin Collier – and four the Military Medal, these being Tom Palmer, Tom Wood, George Wildgoose and Walter Lewis.

Twenty had made the supreme sacrifice – Cecil A. Bradshaw, Ernest Batho, Geo. Beale, Sydney Dodds, Walter Fantom, John Hall, Horace Hall, Jess Jones, Wilfred Jones, Fred Hart, Arthur Johnson, Walter Lewis, M.M., Harry Lewis, William Setchell, Sam Smith, Tom Usherwood, Willie Wells, Alf Wood, Albert Essex and Tom Wild.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 28th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

In dear and loving memory of Corporal Arthur Edward Johnson, who died from wounds in France, on March 24th, 1918.

“He bravely answered duty’s call,
And gave his life for one and all.”

From his loving Mother, Father, Sister Mabel, Albert and Tom, brothers.
16, Jackson Street, Coalville.

Coalville Times article - Friday March 19th, 1920

IN MEMORIAM

Johnson – In ever loving memory of Arthur Edward, the beloved son of Arthur and Jane Johnson, who died in France, March 22nd, 1918.

“Blest are the brave and true
For they shall see God.”

From his living Mother, Father, Sister and Brothers.
16, Jackson Street, Coalville.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 9/2/2018.