Thomas Henry Johnson (1883-1960)
Cornsay man served with Canadian Forestry Corps
Thomas Henry arrived in Canada on 7th May 1913 on board the SS Laurentic, with the intention of making for Winnipeg. He settled there and found work as a farmer. On 8 December 1915 he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in Winnipeg, becoming Private 700156 of “A”Company, 1st Platoon, 101st Battalion. He named his eldest sister, Agnes, with whom he had been living in Shincliffe Mill, as his next of kin and mentioned the three years he had spent with 8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI).
Admitted to hospital in March with influenza, he was then attached to No. 10 Casualty Clearing Company, and in September transferred to 230th Battalion, with whom he embarked for England at the end of January 1917 on the SS Scandinavian. Posted to Chiseldon Camp near Swindon on arrival, the 230th was then absorbed in the Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC) and moved to Sunningdale, Berkshire. 2nd March saw Private Johnson posted to 27th Company CFC in France, where the following year he was appointed acting sergeant. The CFC returned to England in February 1919 and Thomas Henry Johnson was demobilized from the CEF in Winnipeg on 10 April 1919.
Civil Parish: Cornsay
Birth date: 8-Jan-1883
Death date: 9-July-1960
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Cornsay (1891 / 1901 census)
Shincliffe Mill (1911 census)
54 Pearl Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba (enlistment papers)
Melita, Manitoba (death certificate)
Religion: Church of England
Employment: Colliery blacksmith (1911 census)
Farmer (enlistment papers)
Family: Parents: William Johnson, a joiner from Cornsay; Mary Jane Johnson nee Wright, born Bishop Auckland
Siblings: Agnes Johnson, Isabella Johnson, Frederic C.Johnson, Ernest W. Johnson, Jane Johnson, George H.Johnson, William W.Johnson
Military service:
8th Durham Light Infantry (pre-war)
Sergeant
700156
101st Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
230th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Forestry Corps
Medal(s): British war medal
Victory medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by Jean Longstaff, Durham | Jim Busby, Canada