James William JOHNSON

Geddington Roll of Honour 1914-18

Rank: Private
Service No: SPT/5330
Regiment/Service: Royal Fusiliers – 10th Battalion
Died: 13/04/1917 – Died of wounds, aged 24
Cemetery: Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France – Grave: III. G. 6.
War Office Information: Son of Mary Jane Clipston, of Star Lane, Geddington, Kettering, Northants.

Personal Information

William’s mother had 4 sons by her first husband before marrying Herbert Clipston. William was the oldest, born in 1893 and baptised in St Mary Magdalene on 24th June 1894.              His mother later lived in Star Lane, now known as Malting Lane.

All four sons served in the army during the war.

William’s record seems to show that he joined the Essex regiment on a short service enlistment in 1914. Following that he was in the 22nd Battalion, London Regiment and was at the Western Front in France by September 1916. He was killed in action on 13th April of the following year. His three brothers survived but were all wounded.

He was engaged to Miss A. Goode.

1911 Census: Queen Street, Weekley Terrace, Geddington
Herbert R Clipston (stepfather); Aged 40; bricklayer – married 10 years; b. Geddington
Mary Jane Clipston (mother); Aged 40 – 11 children, 8 living; b. Geddington
James W Johnson; Aged 18; shoe trade; b. Geddington
Ernest Arthur Johnson (brother); Aged 15; farm boy; b. Geddington
Horace John Johnson (brother); Aged 15; farm boy; b. Geddington
George Edward Johnson (brother); Aged 13; farm boy; b. Geddington
Sarah Elizabeth Clipston (stepsister); Aged 9; b. Geddington
Beatrice Annie Clipston (stepsister); Aged 7; b. Geddington
Edith Ethel Clipston (stepsister); Aged 2; b. Geddington