Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Johnson, a shoe trade pressman, born 1858 in Northampton (son of Thomas Johnson, 1808-1861 and Alice Johnson, 1818) and his wife Rachel Johnson (nee Sykes, married on the 1st March 1877 in St. George’s Church, Leicester), born in the April quarter of 1858 in Leicester (daughter of Rebecca Sykes, 1839). William was born on the 19th August 1877 in Leicester and baptised on the 26th October 1887 in St. Leonard’s Church, Leicester, he had one sibling, George, born on the 12th June 1880 in Leicester and baptised on the 26th October 1887 in St. Leonard’s Church, Leicester, in April 1881 the family home was at 1, Forsels Yard, St. Mary’s, Leicester. In April 1891 William was employed as a general errand boy and was residing in the family home at New Yard, Bradgate Street, Leicester, together with his father, a shoe trade pressman, his mother and siblings, George, a general errand boy, Ernest, a schoolboy, born on the 23rd July 1882 and baptised on the 26th October 1887 in St. Leonard’s Church, Leicester, Frank, a schoolboy, born on the 8th October 1884 and baptised on the 26th October 1887 in St. Leonard’s Church, Leicester, Walter Frank, a schoolboy, born on the 24th March 1886 and baptised on the 26th October 1887 in St. Leonard’s Church, Leicester, Rachel, born on the 27th December 1888 and baptised on the 5th February 1890 in St. Leonard’s Church, Leicester and Herbert, born on the 19th September 1889 and baptised on the 5th February 1890 in St. Leonard’s Church, Leicester, all his siblings were born in Leicester, also residing with the family was William’s widowed maternal grandmother, Rebecca Walker (nee Sykes), a hosiery trade packer, born in the July quarter of 1838 in Leicester (daughter of Joseph Sykes, 1791 and Hannah Wood, 1796), in April 1891 the family home was at New Yard, Bradgate Street, St. Leonard’s, Leicester. In March 1901 William was absent from the family home at 21, Opal Street, St. Leonard’s, Leicester, residing there was his father, a shoe trade fitter, his mother and siblings, Walter, a shoe trade finisher, Rachel, an errand girl, Herbert, Alice, born on the 5th May 1892 and baptised on the 25th May 1892 in St. Leonard’s Church, Leicester and Harold, born on the 7th May 1894 and baptised on the 18th March 1895 in St. Leonard’s Church, Leicester, the latter two siblings were both born in Leicester. In April 1911 William was absent from the family home at 241, Tudor Road, Leicester, residing there was his father a shoe trade pressman, his mother a corset trade worker and siblings Frank a dyer’s labourer, Herbert, a dyer’s labourer, Alice a warehouse worker and Harold a yarn scourer. William married Daisy Boatham McCrow in the October quarter of 1909 in the Leicester district, Daisy was born in 1886 in Alfreton, Derbyshire.
William’s brothers, Walter Frank, was killed in action on the 7th November 1914, Harold, was killed in action on the 15th September 1916 and Ernest died on the 22nd September 1922.
William’s Army enlistment documents were not researched, and as such all that is known of his military service is that he was commissioned into the Leicestershire Regiment, and was posted as a 2nd Lieutenant to the Leicestershire Regiment and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war on a date not known. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The War Diary records: 15 May-15 - Battalion rested during the day in LANSDOWNE POST. Moved off at 8.00pm. Battalion took over front line from which the assault was to be made and by 9.30pm Companies were in position. Telephonic communication established with left and right and communication by officers ascertained between men on left and 2nd Division on my right. Eleven bridges were placed over the stream which runs parallel to position and about 20 to 30 yards in front of it, there with the existing four bridges made a total of 15 on the Battalion front. It was not possible to place more bridges in position as the stream had been widened at many points by big shell holes, and the trunks and branches of fallen trees also blocked any other places where bridges might have been put. This getting of the bridges into position was an operation of great difficulty on account of the constant flares and bursts of fire from the enemy’s parapet. It was skilfully and quietly done with only two or three casualties. At 10.45pm two platoons were crossed over to the far side of the stream. Four more platoons were formed up ready, in the trenches to go forward and support the leading platoons. The remaining two Companies were formed up lying down behind the parados in close column of platoons ready to advance. Thus, the whole Battalion was got into its final position in order of attack and as close up as possible. This final formation was complete by 11.20pm and thanks to the able leading of Company Commanders the movement was carried out in perfect order, and with no noise. At 11.30pm the leading platoons went forward to the assault closely supported by the second line. The lines in rear went forward to take up the positions vacated by the leading line. At the same time, or if anything some seconds before 11.30pm the enemy opened a very heavy fire with rifles and machine guns. A few minutes afterwards trench mortars and shrapnel searched the stream and the ground on both sides of it. The enemy threw from their parapet some kind of fire grenade which burst into fire on impact with the ground, and these with continuous flames of all colours, literally turned night into day. The leading men pushed on but only a few were able to reach near the enemy’s parapet. Each succeeding line came under a very heavy fire, the bridges got so blocked and the obstacles caused by fallen trees and shell holes so impeded movement that effective support could not be given. Thus, the impetus of the assault was broken before it really got a proper start. The enemy’s parapet was fully manned and the accuracy and intensity may be understood from the fact that 8 officers, Platoon Commanders were killed or wounded. About 12 midnight reports were received from the front that our attack could not reach the German line, orders were then given to withdraw to our own trenches.
The War Diary records: 16 May-15 - At 2.00am Battalion came back to Guards trench and Reserve trench north of the RUE DU BOIS. 5.00am whole Battalion in reserve trenches just north of RUE DU BOIS. 8.30pm move to CROIX BARBEE.
On Saturday May 29th 1915, The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “THE WAR.” – ROLL OF HONOUR. – We regret to state that news has been received of the death of 2nd Lieut. W. Johnson, of the 2nd Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, who was killed in action in Belgium on the 16th May. He enlisted in the Leicester’s 17 years ago, February 1898, and was promoted Lance Corporal 1901, Corporal 1903, Sergeant 1906, and received his commission in December last for distinguished conduct on the field. He was the eldest son of Mr. G. Johnson, 221, Tudor Road, Leicester, and was married and had one child, his home being at Clifford Street, South Wigston. He served in the 1st Battalion in the Boer War, for which he held the medal. He came from an essentially military family, all his brothers, six in number, being in the Leicester’s, one Sergt. W. F. Johnson, being killed in the first battle of Ypres on the 7th November last; another (at present serving) went through the Boer war, and was present at the siege of Ladysmith. An uncle served 21 years with the colours.
On Friday June 4th, 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – ROYAL SYMPATHY. – Mrs. Johnson, wife of Lieut. W. Johnson, of the 2nd Leicester’s, who was killed in action on May 16th, has received a telegram from the King and Queen, who express their deep regret at the loss which she and the army have sustained by the death of her husband in the service of his country, and duly sympathising with her sorrow.
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