MILITARY HISTORY
Private William Johnson– 195107 Active Service (World War I)
On September 14th, 1915 William Johnson completed the Attestation Paper for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), in Peterborough, Ontario. He was 32 years, and 4 months old, and unmarried and he enlisted for the duration of the War. William Johnson indicated that he was born at McCracken’s Landing, Ontario and gave his birth date as May 5th, 1883.
The Attestation Paper does not indicate where he was educated or to what level, however it does note the attestation papers were read and explained to him, and he signed with an ‘X’, witnessed by an officer.
His current address was listed as Curve Lake. He indicated that he had no previous Military experience. As far as his occupation he indicates that he was a ”labourer”. William was 5’ 9 1/2’’ tall and had a 34 1/2” chest (expanded). He had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair. His medical examination took place in Peterborough, Ontario, on September 14th, 1915. He had no medical issues or physical limitations, and as such he was deemed fit.
His next-of-kin was listed as his mother Sarah Johnson.
William Johnson signed the Oath and Certificate of Attestation on September 14th, 1915. The Certificate of Magistrate was signed by the Justice on September 14th, 1915 also in Peterborough, Ontario. William Johnson was taken-on-strength as a ”Pte.” with the 93rd Battalion, 57th Regiment, CEF and was assigned Regimental Service Number 195107.
The Certificate of Officer Commanding Unit was signed November 5th, 1915 also in Peterborough, Ontario.
Wartime military life offered great challenges to those who volunteered, and life was not easy for Private Johnson. In January 1916 he was imprisoned for 20 days, and in February 2016 he suffered 13 days in detention. No details are listed in his record about the background of these detentions,
Pte. Johnson sailed to England aboard the SS Empress of Britain on 15th of July 1916 on the same ship as his brother Joshua and his half-brother Alfred Coppaway and they disembarked at Liverpool, England on 25 July 1916. Pte. Johnson was taken on strength in Liverpool England that same day.
Pte. Johnson was taken on strength 87th Battalion C.C.A.C. (Canadian Army Corps) in Bath on August 17, 1916.
On 24 July 1917, William made out a military will, signing with an X, leaving as his beneficiary his brother Isaac Johnson of Curve Lake. His separation allowance was paid out to his mother Sarah until her death on July 29, 1916. Sadly, she died two weeks after two more of her sons sailed for Europe.
In October of 1917, Pte. Johnson was transferred to the 39th Battalion D Company
In November 1917, Pte. Johnson assigned as a Private with the 87th Battalion
In 1918, Pte. Johnson served with the 4th Battalion, Canadian Labour Corps. Research indicates, that the Canadian Labour Corps were used to provide manpower to the Engineers in the construction of railway lines, road building, tunneling, trench work, excavations, etc. freeing up the younger more fit men to serve on the front.
Trench warfare was brutally challenging to soldiers, who lived in a constant sea of mud, infestation of lice and rats and the fear that at any moment life could come to an explosive end. Throughout the war Pte. Johnson had medical issues. He was diagnosed with eczema at Moore’s Barracks, Shorncliffe, England.
While serving in France, Pte. Johnson was treated for:
Lupus Erythematosus October 28th – November 11th, 1916
Impetigo – August 26th, 1917
Skin Disease – August 24th, 1917
Skin Disease – August 31, 1917
Eczema – September 21, 1917
Eczema – October 6th, 1917
Pte. Johnson was admitted to the No 1 Canadian General Hospital unit on January 2nd, 1918. He was diagnosed with Sepsis of the face pyrexia. This condition must have been very debilitating.
Pte. Johnson died of Bronchopneumonia on Jan 2, 1918. He was 34 years old and is remembered with honour at Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
Pte. William Johnson was eligible for:
The Star
The Victory medal
And the British War Medal
These were forwarded to his brother Isaac Johnson of Burleigh Falls, Ontario.
PERSONAL HISTORY
WILLIAM JOHNSON
William Johnson was born at McCracken’s Landing on Stoney Lake in Dummer Township, Peterborough County on May 5, 1883, the son of Sarah Spencer and Isaac Johnson. They later made their home in Curve Lake First Nation. He received his education and life skills from his family. For many years William was a fishing guide in and around the Kawartha Lakes around Burleigh Falls. He was a great favourite of the many tourists – many of whom he had taken to the haunts to fish where the muskellunge where to be found. He worked in a lumber camp during the winter. William never married.
William was among the first indigenous people to enlist and he encouraged others to go and join. They enlisted in the fall of 1915. He did not hesitate when the call came. He deserted his canoe and went into Peterborough and donned the uniform saying he was going over to where the good hunting was. His younger brother, Joshua, and his half-brother Alfred Coppaway, enlisted to serve in March of 1916. The three were in Halifax and went overseas together on the SS Empress of Britain on July 15, 1916.
He enlisted with the 93rd Battalion, later with 57th Battalion and then with the 4th Battalion Canadian Labour Corps when he was reported ill. Sadly he later passed away on January 2, 1918, from bronchopneumonia at the age of 34 years. He was a quiet soldier respected by his fellow comrades. Private William Johnson is remembered with honour in the Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, near Boulogne, France.
THE FAMILY OF WILLIAM JOHNSON OF CURVE LAKE
The paternal grandparents of William Johnson are Jane Keshigo and George Johnson. They were originally from Credit River and by 1845 they had two boys and a girl.
The maternal grandparents of William Johnson are Sarah Johns and Edwy Spencer. They were originally from Credit River, later moving to Curve Lake.
The parents of William Johnson are Isaac Johnson born in Smith Township in December 1936 and Sarah Spencer born in September 1847 at Rice Lake. They made their home at Curve Lake First Nation and Isaac made his living as a fishing guide, hunter and trapper. They raised three sons – Isaac Johnson born in March 1876 and married Ruth Chase on July 17, 1907; William Johnson was born May 5, 1883 and Joshua Johnson was born July 12, 1885. Isaac passed away on June 6, 1914 and Sarah passed away on July 29, 1916; both are buried in the Curve Lake Cemetery.
Sarah Spencer previously married Henry Cow of Hiawatha in Peterborough on November 7, 1866. He died young and there were no children from this marriage. On March 15, 1872, Sarah married Richard Coppaway of Hiawatha and they had a son, Alfred Coppaway.
