This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Kingbird1 (talk | contribs) at 20:10, 17 February 2009 (→Details: ). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 20:10, 17 February 2009 by Kingbird1 (talk | contribs) (→Details: )(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)James Johnson VC (31 December 1889 - 23 March 1943) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
He was 28 years old, and a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The Northumberland Fusiliers, British Army, attached to 36th Battalion during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 14 October 1918 south west of Wez Macquart, France, during operations by strong patrols, Second Lieutenant Johnson repelled frequent counter-attacks and for six hours, under heavy fire, he held back the enemy. When at length he was ordered to retire he was the last to leave the advanced position carrying a wounded man. Three times subsequently this officer returned and brought in badly wounded men under intense enemy machine-gun fire.
After World War I, Johnson served in the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Fusiliers Museum of Northumberland (Alnwick, Northumberland, England).
References
- A D Harvey, "Who Were the Auxiliaries?" Historical Journal 35, no. 3 (1992): 665-69.
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - The Final Days 1918 (Gerald Gliddon, 2000)