John William Johnson (1876-)
Tattooed miner from Murton Colliery served with AIF but discharged medically unfit
John William Johnson was 40 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in 1916. Although assessed as being fit to fight, the reality was that military life was hard and John’s body could not withstand the demands put upon it. A string of illnesses kept him in army depots first in Australia, then in England, until the decision was finally taken to discharge him without his ever having seen frontline service.
John was born in Murton Colliery in January 1876 and served for seven years with the Second Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) before emigrating to Australia. By the time he enlisted in 1916, he was married to Mary (or May) Elizabeth and was working as a miner in Weston, New South Wales (NSW).
Like many miners, he was quite small, just 5’5″ tall and weighing 9 stone 9 pounds. He had a fresh complexion, with brown eyes and dark hair. Tattoos adorned his chest and both arms.
John enlisted in West Maitland, NSW, on 15 March 1916. He joined the 1st Pioneer Company of the AIF as a private but with his previous experience with the DLI, within a month he was promoted to acting corporal.
With other recruits, John embarked for Europe from Sydney on the “Anchises” on 24 August 1916, having already spent six weeks in the Roseberry Park Garrison Hospital in New South Wales.
John was stationed in the Australian Army Depot at Perham Downs in Wiltshire when on 14 July 1917, he was classed as being absent without leave from 4pm that day until 11.45 the following evening. He was admonished by his lieutenant and forfeited 2 days’ pay.
The rigours of army life were taking their toll on John’s health and he began to suffer with myalgia and neuritis (inflammation of the nerves) in his right arm and leg. He was in and out of hospitals in the south of England for the next few months (Weymouth, Tidmouth and Burdon) before the decision was finally made to invalid him out of the army.
By then almost 42 years old, John returned to Australia on 20 December 1917, to be discharged from the army as medically unfit on 11 May 1918. Despite the nerve damage to his arm and leg, he again went to work as a miner.
Civil Parish: East Murton
Birth date: 1876
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Hall Street, Weston, NSW (1916 attestation papers & 1930 electoral roll)
Employment: Miner
Family: Wife: May or Mary Elizabeth Johnson
Military service:
Pre-War Service: 7 years with 2nd Battalion, DLI
Service Number 2725
Private
1st Pioneer Company, AIF
Promoted Acting Corporal 10-Apr-1916
Discharged as medically unfit 11-May-1918
Medal(s): British War Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by Kelloe Visitor, Trimdon Station