Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 369

(x) A Great War casualty group of three to Second Lieutenant Edward Francis Johnson, Middlesex Regiment, formerly 6th Dragoon Guards, who died of wounds on 7 November 1918 which he had received at the Battle of the Sambre

1914-15 Star (GS-8107 Pte. E. F. Johnson, 6-D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. E. F. Johnson.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Edward Francis Johnson), very fine (4)

Edward Francis Johnson was born at Bridge, Kent, in 1882. He entered the war in France on 17 March 1915, commissioned Second Lieutenant 5th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 29 May 1917, then attached to the First Battalion. At 3 a.m. on 10 October, therefore, the Middlesex moving off passed through Clary to a position East of Bertry, thence south of Troisvilles to the Inchy-Le Cateau road. From this position companies took up position just south of Rambourlieux Farm. At 5 a.m. the Highlanders advanced under a heavy barrage to secure the high ground south-west of Forest to the cross-roads some two thousand yards west, the Middlesex being warned to be prepared to advance east and continue the defensive flank facing Montay, in touch with the 4th King's who were on the Le Cateau- Neuvilly railway on the left. During the day Second Lieutenant E. F. Johnson was wounded.

Battle of the Sambre 4 to 6 November 1918

At 5 p.m. the Die-Hards were ordered to attempt the crossing of the Sambre "with the local materials available." "B" Company carried out this work and about midnight, with "A" and "D" Companies, crossed the river in the face of opposition from the enemy's machine-guns. "C" Company remained on the near side covering the crossings, but at 2 p.m. on the 6th with Battalion Headquarters, crossed the river and the whole Battalion was assembled in the area of the Aulnoye station, the men resting for the remainder of the day. At 6 a.m. on the 7th the Brigade paraded and advanced along the road to Pot de Vin. The head of the column, however, met with opposition from machine-gun fire and was temporarily held up. The Middlesex then turned off the main road and endeavoured to work round Pot de Yin from the south. The movement progressed though under shell fire, one shell killing Lieutenant W. L. Hudspith and 2 other ranks and wounding Second Lieutenant E. F. Johnson who had rejoined the Battalion from hospital only that morning, and who died of his wounds on the 7th of November. Buried at Dourlers Communal Cemetery and remembered on the Thanington, Kent memorial. The address on Medal Index Card was given as 131 Wincheap Street, Canterbury.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate

Starting price
£140