Military History

18th Light Horse for 6 months. He enlisted with 10th Field Artillery Brigade and was transferred to the Depot at Albany 14.9.1916. He was transferred to Artillery Training at Maribyrnong, Vic. 9.12.1916.
Embarked Melbourne per ‘Osterley’ A 38 for UK 14.3.1917.
Roll Rank Gunner.
Roll Unit 5th Division Artillery.
Johnson disembarked at Plymouth.11.4.1916. He marched in to No. 21 Camp at Larkhill 11.4.1917. After a period of intensive training he proceeded overseas to France 8.8.1917 as a Gunner. He transferred to 4th Division Artillery Column 13.8.1916. He then transferred to 110th Howitzer Brigade, 24th Field Artillery Brigade with the 4th Division 18.8.1917. Johnson fought in the front line trenches  at Ypres. He fell sick in France and was admitted to hospital 26.10.1917, just prior to the Battle of Polygon Wood. He rejoined his Brigade on the 17.1.1918. Johnson was hospitalized again with bronchitis and admitted to hospital at Wimereux, France 2.3.1918. He was then evacuated to hospital in England, at Birmingham. He was transferred to Harefield, and listed for discharge as an invalid. He was listed for early return to Australia as invalid.
Embarked for Suez per ‘Dunluce Castle’ 8.4.1918, then embarked from Suez per ‘Karoola’ for Australia.
Returned/Disembarked Fremantle 20.5.1918.
Discharged 10.6.1918.
Final Rank Gunner 110th Howitzer Brigade. 10th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB).
Medical Condition Invalided with Sim. Tachycardia 27.4.1918.
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photo G.H. Johnson, reproduced with permission of the Habgood Family
           HMAT Osterley. Photographer late Allen Green Collection Vic., photograph source shipspotting
           4th Division Artillery on the road to Ypres 1917. Photographer J.F.Hurley, photograph source AWM E01220
           Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00783

Notes G.H. Hardey was the son of  William George Hardey. He  took over his father's flour mill on Guildford Town Lot 140, in 1879, following his father's death. William. G. Johnson was a councillor and one time Mayor of Guildford, a member of the Swan Roads Board and Agricultural Society. He built the fine home known as' Seaton Ross' which his son George inherited on his father's death in 1917. (Erickson,R. 1988. pp1641 and 1648)

Information Source
AWM  E01220. 4th Division Artillery on the road to Ypres 1917. Photographer J.F.Hurley, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00783. Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Rolls George Hardey Johnson
Erickson,R.'Bicentiennial Dictionary of Western Australians-Vll. D-J'. Pub UWA Press 1988
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Johnson G H
Photo of G.H. Johnson reproduced with permission of the Habgood family
Ship spotting. HMAT 'Osterley'. Photograph late Allen Green Collection Vic., photograph source shipspotting, http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1448328
Wesley Chapel Honour Roll
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

 Johnson Street, Guildford. WA.

 

Associated Images