One Family’s War: The Johnson Brothers

A display about ‘One family’s war: The Johnson Brothers, of Lockwood Street, Hull’ is now featuring at the Beverley Treasure House.

This small exhibit tells the tale of three brothers, Charles, William and Ernest David Johnson, who’re known to have served in the Great War, including service in the East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire regiments, only one came home. Their parents were John Johnson (a tailor from Roos) and his wife Sarah Alberta (born in Withernsea). In 1911, the family were living at 11 Talbot Terrace. There were five sons and a daughter, all but one born in Hull.

During 1915, Charles A Johnson kept a diary. The last entry is dated 30 December. He served with C Company of the 1/4th Battalion the East Yorkshire Regiment and transferred to the 8th Battalion in January 1917. Charles was killed on 14 June 1917.

His diary entries are written in a small, now rather battered black covered notebook, in pencil throughout. The last few entries are on loose leafs of paper. It is a diary that is full of the brutal realities of war. The diary transcript is displayed on the reception desk outside of the museum.

William Johnson served in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq). He may have served with the 6th Battalion at Gallipoli in 1915 and then moved to the 8th Battalion sometime after July 1916, serving on the Western Front. William survived the war.

Ernest David Johnson was a private in C Company of the 1/8th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Posted missing on the 11 April 1918, Ernest had, in fact, been wounded and captured by the Germans. He suffered a fractured thigh, and his leg had to be amputated. He died on 17 July 1918, aged 19.

Dr David Marchant, East Riding of Yorkshire Council museum’s registrar, said:

“This exhibition is a story of one local family’s involvement in the Great War, from the mud and trenches of France to the baking hot plains of Iraq and the tragic losses that resulted.”

The Beverley Treasure House wants to thank Mr. Sibert for the loan of material from his family archive for this display, which is running until Friday, 26 September. Admission is free.

Open Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9.30am to 5pm, Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 4pm.