JOHNSON, Frank

War
1st World War
Date of Birth
Date Attested
Attested at
Wingham, Ontario
Original Unit
161st Huron Battalion
Regimental Number
654233
Rank
Private
Date of Death
Age at Death
21 years 5 months
Cemetery
Warvillers Churchyard Cemetery Extension - Somme - France
Cenotaph
Wingham Cenotaph
Biographical Summary

DIVISIONAL UNIT:         4th Canadian Infantry Division
                                             10th Infantry Brigade
                                             47th Battalion - Western Ontario
                                             Canadian Infantry Corps
SERVICE NO:                   654233
RESIDENCE:                    East Wawanosh Township – Ontario 
DATE OF BIRTH:            February 27, 1897
                                             London - England
DATE OF DEATH:           August 10, 1918.                  21 years     5 months
CEMETERY:                     Warvillers Churchyard Extension – Warvillers –
                                             Somme – France
                                                  A     20
MOTHER:                          Mrs. Elizabeth Hex – Brixton – London – England
NEXT OF KIN:                  Thomas Hutton, Esquire – Wingham - Ontario
Occupation:                        Farmer.                                 Religion:     Methodist.
Enlistment:                         Wingham – January 11, 1916 into 161st Huron Battalion.
Enlistment Age:                 19 years.

The 161st Battalion in England on November 11, 1916.
Private Johnson was Struck off Strength of the 161st Battalion in early March of 1918 after transferring to the 
47th Battalion. He arrived overseas in France on March 8, 1918 and joins his unit on March 14, 1918.
Private Johnson and the men in his Company were involved in an attack made from the vicinity of Warvillers against enemy positions situated just east of Fouquescourt. Here he was slightly wounded and started to move to the regimental aid post with the assistance of a comrade. While they passed through the village of Fouquescourt an enemy shell exploded very close and both men were killed instantly. Private Johnson’s wounds were to the head and chest.
The Battalion diaries state the strength was 33 Officers / 749 other ranks. During the advance, the 47th was behind the 
44th Battalion with “A” & “C” Companies in assault position with “B” & “D” Companies in support. At 10:15 am the advance began with heavy enemy artillery fire coming down. As the advance continued they came under heavy machine gun fire near Fouquescourt and the advance was checked. “A” Company advanced making contact with the enemy and engaging them. With the aid of the 44th Battalion, “A” Company rushed to village and set up defensive lines. “C” Company was engaged with enemy machine gun nests and posts. They leap frogged the 44th Battalion and advanced until again being stopped by enemy fire. The enemy was holding out and the 47th Battalion consolidated Memalars Trench.