Johnson, Frederick
4274 Private Frederick Wasselman Johnson - 28th Battalion AIF
Frederick was born on the 15th May 1889 in Port Adelaide South Australia to William and Elizabeth Johnson, being one of five siblings, with, William 1882, Bertha 1884, Walter 1886 and Harold 1894.
The family moved to WA in the 1900's and was living at Norfolk Street Fremantle. His mother died 1st June 1912 in Palmyra and Father died on the 15th September 1915.
At this time Fred was living at 58 Alexander Road (later renamed to Wray Ave) and Fred was working as a driver.
He also lived for a time with his Sister Bertha at 280 High street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 166 High St)
On the 8th February 1916 Fred enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 7 inches tall;
Weight - 147lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-37 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Brown;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Fred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the 10th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion. They then transferred to Belmont Camp. He trained with this group in WA for several weeks and prior to embarking they had their group photo taken at Belmont Camp. (below)
On the 6th March 1916 Fred and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Ulysses. Shortly after setting out near the harbour entrance, the vessel hit a submerged rock. This caused enough damage to the ship that the men were disembarked and then waited until the ship's hull was repaired in April 1916. They then set sail for Egypt.
After their arrival Fred was sent to a reinforcement camp. The 28th Battalion had already departed for France, so Fred was retained in this camp till May 1916. On the 29th May 1916 He left on a troopship for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 5th June 1916.
On arrival he was entrained north for Etaples where he was sent to the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot Camp. He was here till July 1916 when he fell ill with influenza and was then sent to England to recover. On arrival he was sent to Middlesex War Hospital. He remained there till the 14th August 1916.
After a two week furlough Fred was sent to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny. He would be here for several weeks as he only returned to France in November 1916. After a few weeks at the 2nd Australian Division Base Depot Camp at Etaples, Fred was taken on strength of the 28th Battalion on the 4th December 1916.
The 28th Battalion was then on the Somme battlefield near Flers and Fred now reunited with his brother Walter who was also serving with the 28th Battalion.
The 28th Battalion remained in the Flers sector through the French winter of 1916/17. He fought with the 28th Battalion at Lagnicourt on the 26th March 1917. Through April 1917 the 28th Battalion remained near Lagnicourt and on the 3rd May 1917 were used to reinforce the 5th & 6th Brigades at Bullecourt when their attack was faltering. Unfortunately his brother Walter was killed as they were heading up to reinforce the units in the line.
After Bullecourt, the 28th battalion were then sent on a three month rest period out of the lines and much time was taken on resting up after a strenuous last twelve months and then on training and sporting activities.
In September 1917 the 28th battalion headed for Belgium where they would be taking part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th September 1917 the 28th Battalion took part in the action at the Battle of Menin Road. Fred again came through a major action safely, and in October and November 1917 served at Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele.
On the 12th December 1917 Fred was given a well deserved two week furlough to the UK. He had served continuously since arriving in France so his leave was well accepted. Upon his return he rejoined the 28th Battalion in Belgium. From November 1917 to March 1918 they helped to hold the front line south east of Ypres between Hollebeke and Messines.
On March 21st 1918 the Germans had broken through the British front further south and the Australian divisions were sent to the Somme region to help stop this German advance.
Fred and the 28th Battalion came into contact with the Germans around Dernancourt and Ville-sur-Ancre in April 1918 and were in this region for a few weeks. They then remained around Morlancourt through May and June 1918, taking part in the capture of that village.
Fred and his unit were now sent to Villers-Bretonneux and in July 1918 the 28th Battalion successfully captured Monument Wood. A large advance was due to commence on August 8th 1918.
Fred participated in the August 8th attack from Villers-Bretonneux which smashed through the German lines. The 28th Battalion participated in several actions over the next few weeks, most notably at Peronne and Mont St Quentin in late August/early September 1918. The 28th Battalion was in action until October 4th 1918 when they fought at Montbrehain.
After the action at Montbrehain, the 28th Battalion were withdrawn from the line for a well deserved rest. The 28th Battalion were still out of the front line when the Armistice was announced on the 11th November 1918. Fred had been given leave to England on the 10th November 1918 so he was able to celebrate the Armistice away from army life.
After the Germans withdrew back to their own borders the Australians were sent into what had been German occupied parts of Belgium and France. The 28th Battalion went to the Charleroi area in Belgium. However on the 28th November 1918 Fred had fallen ill with influenza and was sent to the 41st Stationary Hospital at Abbeville. He was there for a few days and was then transferred to the 39th General Hospital at Le Havre.
Fred remained in hospital in France till 15th January 1919 and he was then transferred to England. To exacerbate matters as well as recovering influenza, Fred was also battling venereal disease. Upon arriving in England he was sent to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford. Fortunately he was just there for ten days and was then released. Fred was then then to the AIF Camp at Parkhouse. Fred was there till the 2nd May 1919 and was then transferred to No.2 Group Camp at Sutton Veny. He would remain here while waiting to be assigned a berth on a troopship home.
On the 1st June 1919 Fred boarded the transport ship HMAT Ulysses and set sail for Australia, reaching Fremantle on the 8th July 1919. After being disembarked Fred was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a medical check up. But as he was not wounded in the war, this was done quickly and Fred was subsequently discharged from the AIF on the 22nd August 1919. With the death of their brother Walter in the war, Fred's sibling's were very happy to see him return safely.
After his return from the war Fred resumed work at Fremantle wharf as a Lumper and by 1922 was living at Lefroy Road before moving to 50 Queen St (later renumbered to 34 Queen) in the 1930's.
Further sad news happened for the family when their brother William Jaspar Johnson died in 1937 in NSW.
By the 1940's Fred was still living at 34 queen street Fremantle and working as a Lumper
Frederick died on the 28th November 1948 aged 59. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Anglican MON AA 0511.