Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021:
Former Mayor of Auburn, Private William James Johnson, ‘44 years 7 months’ on enlistment, was the oldest of the Auburn Memorial men, even though he had understated his age by four years. Seven Auburn Memorial men were over 40 years of age on enlistment.
Johnson was the Mayor of Auburn in 1915. A coachbuilder by trade, he was an active member of the Australian Labor Party and an enthusiastic supporter of a number of patriotic organisations. Between 1910 and 1913 Johnson served in the Federal House of Representatives as the member for Robertson.
On the outbreak of the First World War, Johnson actively encouraged recruitment in many places across NSW, making patriotic speeches and supporting recruitment efforts. In 1915, already enlisted in the AIF, Johnson joined the Gilgandra to Sydney Coo-ee March for a section into Orange to show support.
At 48 years of age, Johnson would normally have been considered too old to enlist but he considered it his patriotic duty to volunteer to fight for King and Empire. A person of Johnson’s age and leadership experience would normally be considered for an officer’s commission but Johnson, like numerous other community leaders who joined up, preferred to stay with the men in the ranks.
Private Johnson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Holsworthy on 29 August 1915, and he embarked for overseas service on HMAT Medic on the last day of that year. In Egypt, Johnson met up with fellow member of the Auburn Methodist Church, Dr William Charles Grey, a local GP, who had enlisted in the Australian Medical Corps.
After training in Egypt, Johnson travelled with other reinforcements to the French port of Marseilles and on to the Front, joining the 2nd Battalion, 1st Division in May 1916. Shortly afterwards, he was greeted by his former parliamentary colleague, Prime Minister Billy Hughes, during one of the Australian Prime Minister’s tours of the Western Front.
On the first day of the battle of Pozières, Johnson received a gunshot wound to his head and he died of wounds on 30 July 1916. He was buried in the Étaples Military Cemetery at Étaples on the coast of France. For his grave the family chose the inscription: AT REST. The Étaples Military Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth War Cemetery in France with 11,553 burials including 464 Australians. Buried there are is one other Auburn Memorial man, Private Thomas Speak.
Johnson’s wife passed away before the end of the war, so his medals for war service were collected in 1922 by his son Lachlan and daughter Ivy, then still living in the family home in Macquarie Road, Auburn. Pensions were granted to Ivy and to adopted son Eric Edward Travis.
William Johnson is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Auburn Methodist Church First World War Honour Roll
- Walter Thompson Masonic Schools First World War Memorial, Baulkham Hills
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal
- 1914-20 Victory Medal
