Johnson, James Herbert
1190 Private James Herbert John Johnson - Tropical Force
James Herbert Johnson was born on the 26th December 1875 in Tunbridge Kent England to David and Maria Johnson being one of nine siblings born into the family.
The family lived in Kent during his early years and in 1891 James joined the Royal Navy, serving with them from 1891 to 1901.
On 3rd June 1896 he married Florence King in Tunbridge Kent and they would have six children, Florence in 1898, Grace 1901, Evelyn 1902, Alice 1905, Mabel 1906 and Dora 1910.
His mother died 1897 in Kent. During the 1900's he was still living in Kent after leaving the Royal Navy.
The family moved to Western Australia circa 1910 and James was working at Fremantle Harbour and the Naval Base as an instructor and also a Rigger and Diver. By the start of the Great War in 1914 the family were living at 25 Malcolm Street Fremantle. (later renumbered to 17 Malcolm).
During the first few years of the Great War, James was kept on duty at Fremantle Harbour and the Cockburn Sound Naval Base. By 1917 the family had moved to Napier Road North Fremantle. James's official work was as a Rigger and Diver plus Foreman on a floating plant in Fremantle Harbour.
On the 12th May 1917 in Fremantle James 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 4 inches tall;
Weight - 161lbsl
Chest Measurement - 38-40 inches;
Complexion - Fresh;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Grey;
Distinctive marks - Tattoos on both arms on women and flowers and a Cross on the chest.
After his successful enlistment, James was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the Engineers. He was then sent to NSW to complete his training at the Engineers Training facility at Moore Park. On the 26th September 1917 he was discharged from the AIF as his services were required by the Naval Tropical Force in New Guinea.
On the 18th October 1917 James arrived at Rabaul in New Britain and joined the Naval forces there. He would serve here through to 1921 being then specially assigned to the Civil Administration and the Lands and Survey department, wharf construction. James was given the rank of Honorary Company Sergeant Major.
He returned to Western Australia when he could but continued with his role with the Public World Department in Rabaul. During this time the family were living at 12 Bayly Road North Fremantle.
James died on the 11th October 1932 in Fremantle aged 56. He was buried in Fremantle Cemetery plot Seventh Day Adventist MON 0076.
photo courtesy of family ancestry page