William Henry Johnson

William Henry Johnson VC

William Henry Johnson was born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, on 15 October 1890. He was the son of William and Elizabeth Johnson and worked at Manton Colliery before the First World War. In civilian life he was also a keen bell-ringer at Worksop Priory. He is believed to have been the only practising bell-ringer awarded the Victoria Cross during the First World War. Art UK⁠; The National Archives⁠

Johnson enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters, formally the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment. His early regimental number was 3538, later changed to 306122 during the renumbering of the Territorial Force. Contemporary bell-ringing records place him in the 2/8th Battalion by April 1915. He subsequently served in Ireland before deploying to France with the battalion in February 1917. He later served with the regiment’s 2nd Battalion and transferred to the 1/5th Battalion in September 1918.

By October 1918 Johnson had attained the rank of sergeant. His battalion formed part of the 46th (North Midland) Division, which had recently broken through the Hindenburg Line at the St Quentin Canal. On 3 October, the division attacked the Beaurevoir-Fonsomme defensive line and the village of Ramicourt. The 1/5th Sherwood Foresters was one of the leading battalions and encountered determined resistance from German troops occupying trenches, concrete shelters and concealed machine-gun positions. 1/5th Sherwood Foresters war diary and divisional history⁠

During the advance, Johnson’s platoon was stopped at very close range by a German machine-gun position. Under intense rifle and machine-gun fire, he worked his way forward alone and charged the post. He bayoneted several of its defenders and captured two machine guns. Although severely wounded by a grenade, Johnson refused to leave the battle and continued leading his men forward.

A short time later, another machine-gun position stopped the advance. Johnson again attacked alone. This time he bombed the position with grenades, disabled its guns and captured the surviving crews. His actions removed two separate obstacles, allowed the British troops to resume their advance and prevented them from falling dangerously far behind their protective artillery barrage.

Johnson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty. The award was published in the London Gazette on 14 December 1918. Official Victoria Cross citation, London Gazette⁠

King George V presented Johnson with the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace on 29 March 1919. France also awarded him the Médaille militaire for his wartime service. Authorization for the French award appeared in the London Gazette in December 1919. London Gazette, foreign decorations⁠

After leaving the Army, Johnson returned to civilian life. He became a publican and maintained his association with bell-ringing, later joining the ringers at St Paul’s Church in Daybrook. He was also involved in the local ex-service community and is reported to have served as the first chairman of the Worksop branch of the British Legion.

During the Second World War, Johnson returned to uniform as a member of the Home Guard. He served with a searchlight unit but eventually relinquished his duties because of deteriorating health. His Home Guard service should be distinguished from full-time service in the regular Army and did not necessarily qualify him for the War Medal 1939–1945.

Johnson later suffered a serious leg injury that required an amputation. His health continued to deteriorate, and he underwent the amputation of his remaining foot shortly before his death. He died at Arnold, Nottinghamshire, on 25 April 1945, aged 54.

His funeral was conducted with full military honours at St Paul’s Church, Daybrook. Fellow Victoria Cross recipient John Caffrey attended, and Johnson’s bell-ringing colleagues rang handbells beside his grave. He was buried in Section L, Grave 6 of Redhill Cemetery, Nottingham. Johnson biography and medal location⁠; battle account and burial details⁠

Johnson’s Victoria Cross and medal group are preserved by the Museum of the Mercian Regiment, formerly the Sherwood Foresters Museum, at Nottingham Castle. The documented group includes the Victoria Cross, British War Medal, Victory Medal, King George VI Coronation Medal and French Médaille militaire.