William John Eric Johnson

William John Eric Johnson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	29 Sep 1900
Place of Birth	Boulder, Western Australia
Death	29 Sep 1958, aged 58
Place of Death	Mandurah, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	40 years, 1 month
Description	5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; ; medium complexion ; blue eyes ; brown - greying hair
Occupation	Tractor driver
Religion	Salvation Army
Address	Karragullen, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Susan Johnson
Military Information
Reg Number	W235233 & WX13494
Date of Enlistment	4 Nov 1940
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	4th Training Battalion 1stembarkationdatefrom= 9 Sep 1941
Journey Dates	‒ 23 Sep 1941
Transport Details	HMT Queen Mary Fremantle to Suez
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	?? May 1942 ‒ 26 May 1942
Transport Details	SS Oranje Suez to Adelaide
Journey Dates	2 Jun 1942 ‒ 5 Jun 1942
Transport Details	SS Centaur Adelaide to Fremantle
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

During 1923 William married Susan Brown in Fremantle. They had three children: Mavis Susan Johnson (1924-2005); Olive Jean Johnson (1927-28); Ronald Eric Johnson (1933 - 2015). Electoral Roll entries: 1931 - 1937 Barton's Mill, mill hand

War Service

William was mobilised on 4 Nov 1940, and on 9 Dec 1940 he was posted to the 7th Workshop & Park Company's No 1 Section as a Sapper. On 6 Mar 1941 he was seen by the Camp Dressing Station and forwarded to the 110th Australian Base Hospital, before returning to duty on 15 Mar 1941. On 24 May 1941 he enlisted in the 2nd AIF at Claremont,, now living at 35 Manchester street, Victoria Park, and employed as a wood cutter.

On 27 May 1941 Bill was transferred to the 3rd Training Battalion at Northam, where on 6 Jun 1941 he was allocated to the Reinforcement draft for the 2/28th Infantry Battalion. On 7 Jul 1941 Bill was granted 7 days pre-embarkation leave, but soon after his return, on 4 Aug 1941 he was admitted to 38th Australian Camp Hospital with an earache. On 12 Aug 1941 he was released to the care of the 109th Australian Convalescent Depot who 2 days later released him back to his unit which was then the 4th Training Battalion. He was again granted pre-embarkation leave, from 5:00pm 21 Aug 1941 until midnight 27 Aug 1941.

On 9 Sep 1941 Bill embarked on HMT Queen Mary in Fremantle, a part of convoy 12A, disembarkling in Suez, Egypt on 23 Sep 1941 and joining the 24th Australian Infantry Training Battalion. Soon after on 16 Oct 1941 he was admitted to 2/1st Australian General Hospital with Rubella, before being released to the 2/1st Australian Convalescent Depot on 28 Oct 1941. On 8 Feb 1942 he was assessed by a Medical Board as "Temporarily Unfit for service for a period greater than 6 months". He was sent home, embarking on SS Oranje for Adelaide where he disembarked on 26 May 1942. He later boarded SS Centaur, disembarking in Fremantle on 5 Jun 1942, before proceeding on leave until 16 Jun 1942.

On 6 Jul 1942 Bill was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital in Hollywood for treatment for a Duodenal Ulcer, until he was discharged to the Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot on 23 Oct 1942. On 9 Nov 1942 he was assessed by a Medical Board which found that he was Permanently Unfit for military service on account of Dyspepsia and a Septic Ulcer. Following leave from 17 Nov - 17 Dec 1942, he was discharged on 17 Dec 1942.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1943 at 35 Manchester street, Victoria Park, Assistant Inspector; 1949 at 38 Lockyer avenue, Albany, linesman; 1954 Stanley street, Albany, linesman; 1958 at 37 Creedy street, Mandurah, linesman;

Notes

When Bill enlisted in the 2nd AIF he reduced his age by 3 years by changing his date of birth. At the time of his transfer to the AIF, Bill was with the 7th Workshop & Park Company.