Gnr
George Johns
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1889 |
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Place of birth: St George in the East, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Gunner |
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Service number: 30539 |
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Enlistment place: Canning Town, Essex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Royal Field Artillery, "B" Bty. 223rd Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 18/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Springfield - Maurenhof, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 28 |
Cemetery
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Hospital Farm Cemetery Plot: / Row: E Grave: 5 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Gunner George Johns - a general labourer from Canning Town, Middlesex - served in “B” Battery of the 223rd Brigade Royal Field Artillery during the Battle of Passchendaele.
On 16 October 1917 George’s Battery took up positions near Vancouver Farm and the Keerselare crossroads. These positions, however, were untenable due to severe hostile shell fire and “B” Battery was moved to another location on the following day.
The new position was prepared at Springfield Farm, near the village of St Julien on 18 and 19 October. Though the guns had been relocated they also faced wet conditions, lack of cover, counterbattery fire and German shellfire along the roads.
Twenty-eight-year-old George Johns was killed in action on 18 October 1917, while the 223rd Brigade were preparing their new gun positions near Springfield Farm. George was buried in Hospital Farm Cemetery. He left behind a wife and two sons.
On 16 October 1917 George’s Battery took up positions near Vancouver Farm and the Keerselare crossroads. These positions, however, were untenable due to severe hostile shell fire and “B” Battery was moved to another location on the following day.
The new position was prepared at Springfield Farm, near the village of St Julien on 18 and 19 October. Though the guns had been relocated they also faced wet conditions, lack of cover, counterbattery fire and German shellfire along the roads.
Twenty-eight-year-old George Johns was killed in action on 18 October 1917, while the 223rd Brigade were preparing their new gun positions near Springfield Farm. George was buried in Hospital Farm Cemetery. He left behind a wife and two sons.
Sources 5
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Sources used |
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British army ancestors https://britisharmyancestors.co.uk/search-result/?q=Royal+field+artillery+gunner+30539 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/141495/johns,-/ Sources used |
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Long Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/?domain=www.1914-1918.net Sources used |
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War Diary http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |