Cpl Edwin Henry Cross Johnson

Son of Edwin Grove Johnson and Ada M Johnson (nee Cross), of Essie Villa Brentwood. Edwin was studying to become an engineer before the war. He was killed in France in 1915, of which the Essex Newsman gives this account:

We regret to record the death of Corpl. Edwin Henry Cross Johnson, a young Brentwood soldier, one who gave up a highly promising career to serve his country, and who has now laid down his life while trying to rescue a wounded comrade. Corpl. E. H. C. Johnson, of the Motor Cycle Despatch Riders, was the only son of Mr. E. G. Johnson, of Brentwood. He was educated at the Brentwood Grammar School. As a boy he was renowned for the energy which he put into his work, his games, and whatever came to hand, and few have been more beloved by masters and boys than Teddy. From school he went to King's College, where he gained an Honours Diploma in Engineering. 1913 he took a post in Canada under the Canadian Northern Railway, but he rushed home immediately that war was declared and enlisted. The following extract is from a sergeant letter giving details of his brave end: "He was killed in a heavy engagement on May 9th. The circumstance of his death are especially fine and quite unparalleled in the short history of that new army to which he belonged, the Motor Cycle Despatch Riders. He saw a sergeant badly wounded while trying to get into the front line of trenches, and 'Johnny' went out to help him in. While he was putting on the man's field dressing (an emergency bandage carried by all soldiers on active service; a bullet passed through Johnny's waistcoat and coat and killed the man; then Johnny started to get back under cover. While on the way he got hit in the abdomen and died about three-quarters of an hour later in the trench. He did not know that he was badly wounded, and until he lost consciousness he was cheerfully telling his friends that he would soon be back in England. He was a thorough gentleman, and we all liked him." Had Corpl. Johnson cared to wait he would undoubtedly have had a commission, but he was always wanting to be up and doing, so he volunteered for the Front at once. Joining the Army in September [1914], he left England on November 5. He was a good man. having served in the 24th London (Cyclists) and also in the Officers' Training Corps. Many Essex friends will hear of his loss with great regret. On Thursday Mr. E. G. Johnson, fahher of the. late Corpl. Johnson, received a letter from Capt. J. M. T. Frost, R.E., written at the Front, conveying the combined sympathy of all "Johnny's" many friends and comrades at the Front. The letter, in moving terms, expressed the deep feeling of admiration with which the noble act in which he met his death was regarded: "He was not carrying: dispatches; he was not firing, not leading an impetuous charge; but he went out to help a wounded comrade, who was lying in the open field, with shot and shell hurtling and crashing everywhere around. When he was hit he gave us all to understand that it was nothing, only a flesh wound. He bore it so bravely we never know the wound was mortal, but in an hour there was one hero less left to laugh in the face of death and do his duty. Ever since he joined he was one of our most reliable dispatch riders. He was always known as Johnny and was a popular favourite.

He was buried in the Sailly-Sur-La-Lys Canadian Cemetery in the Pas de Calais, which was a front line cemetery begun only a few months before his death.