Albert Sydney Darling JOHNSON

JOHNSON, Albert Sydney Darling

Service Numbers: 1298, W84763
Enlisted: 16 July 1915
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: Australian Army Postal Corps
Born: Coolabah, New South Wales, Australia, 13 February 1889
Home Town: Darkan, West Arthur, Western Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer and Sleeper Cutter
Died: Canning, Western Australia, 29 July 1976, aged 87 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Karrakatta Cemetery & Crematorium, Western Australia
Memorials: Darkan Honour Roll Memorial
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World War 1 Service

16 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1298, 32nd Infantry Battalion
18 Nov 1915: Involvement Private, 1298, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
18 Nov 1915: Embarked Private, 1298, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide
12 Jun 1916: Transferred AIF WW1, Private, Australian Army Postal Corps
10 Jul 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1298, Australian Army Postal Corps, ex Alexandria to Etaple, France per Tunisian
16 Jun 1919: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1298, Australian Army Postal Corps, per HT Ormonde
15 Sep 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1298, Australian Army Postal Corps

World War 2 Service

12 Jul 1942: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, W84763

Help us honour Albert Sydney Darling Johnson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Albert was the ninth of eighteen children of John Godfrey Johnson (b1848 in Bolivia, NSW) and Ellen Folwell (b1859 in Stawell, Victoria). John (a Labourer) and Ellen married in 1875 in Heathcote, Victoria. They lived in Victoria and NSW where John worked as a Labourer, before moving their family to WA in the early 1890's. John worked in Perth as a Labourer before moving his family to Darkan where he was a Farmer. Family anecdotes have John born in Bolivia, South America - his parents were sponsored from England as Assisted Immigrants in 1841, arriving in NSW on board the Brothers. They lived in Bolivia, NSW before follwoing the goldrushes to Victoria and WA.

Albert was a Farmer and Sleeper Cutter on Myra Downs in Darkan WA, where he was a member of the Rifle Club. In July 1915 he enlisted in the AIF (having been previously rejected because he did not meet the height requirements). Albert served as a Private (Service No:1298) with 32nd Infantry Battalion in Egypt before transferring to the Postal Corps. He was in France in 1918 when 'Base Commandant, Havre, wished to express his appreciation of the praiseworthy conduct of this man, in attempting to save No:27329 Sgt J McCurdy RE from drowning' (National Archives Australia; 26/8/18). Albert was Discharged in September 1919. He was one of eight brothers who served in WWI and WWII.

Following his Discharge, Albert returned to Myra Downs at Darkan, WA where he was a Farmer before relocating to Bolton Pool near Collie, WA (Farmer). Albert served in the ACMF (Private; Service No:W84763) in WWII.

In 1953 in Perth, WA Albert married Gladys Beryl Chamberlain (nee De Atta; b1897 in Geraldton, WA). Albert (retired) and Gladys settled at Forrestfield in Canning WA - Albert died in 1976 and Gladys in 1980.

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Biography contributed by Chris Buckley

Albert was the ninth of eighteen children of John Godfrey Johnson (b1848 in Bolivia, NSW) and Eileen Folwell (b1859 in Stawell, Victoria). John (a Labourer) and Eileen married in 1875 in Heathcote, Victoria, and lived in Victoria and NSW before moving their family to WA in the early 1890's. John worked as a Labourer in Perth, WA before relocating to Darkan where he was a Farmer. Family anecdote has it that John was born in Bolivia, South America - his parents were sponsored from England as Assisted Immigrants, arriving in NSW in 1841 on board the Brothers - they lived in Bolivia NSW before following the gold rushes to Victoria and WA.

Albert was a Farmer and Sleeper Cutter, and a member of the Rifle Club at Myra Downs, Darkan WA when he enlisted int he AIF in 1915. He served (Private; Service No:1298) in Egypt and France with 32nd Infantry Battalion and Postal Corps and was Discharged in 1919. Albert returned to Myra Downs in Darkan WA, later moving to a farm at Bolton Pool near Collie WA. He served with the ACMF (Private; Service No:W84763) in 12 Battalion (Jarrah) VDC in WWII. Albert was one of eight brothers who served either in WWI and/or WWII.

In 1953, Albert was retired and living in Forrestdale, WA when he married Gladys Beryl Chamberlain (nee de Atta; b1897 in Geraldton, WA). Albert died in 1976 and Gladys in 1980.

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