Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Tom Johnson, a shoe factory foreman, born in the 1st quarter of 1858 in Leicester and baptised on the 21st march 1858 in Leicester (son of John Johnson and Ann Brutnell) and his wife Ann Johnson (nee Gurney, married in the 3rd quarter of 1879 in the Leicester district), born in the 2nd quarter of 1854 in Leicester (daughter of Benjamin Gurney and Adelaide Plant). John Francis was born in the 4th quarter of 1891 in Sileby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Annie, a Griswold knitter, born on the 2nd February 1880 and baptised on the 1st November 1880 in Christ Church, Leicester, Edith Maria, a Griswold knitter, born on the 25th November 1881 and baptised on the 7th May 1882 in St. Mark’s Church, Leicester, Tom, a shoe trade riveter, born in the 3rd quarter of 1884 and baptised on the 5th October 1884 in St. Mark’s Church, Leicester and Alice Rebecca, born on the 21st August 1889 and baptised on the 8th September 1889 in St. Matthew’s Church, Leicester, the latter four siblings were all born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at Back Lane, Sileby. In April 1911 John was employed as a shoe trade pressman and was residing in the family home at Swan Street, Sileby, together with his father, a shoe trade pressman, his mother and siblings, Tom, a shoe trade riveter and Alice a shoe trade machinist. Although Francis was officially recorded at birth with the Christian names John Francis, the name of Francis was always used. Francis’s mother died in the 3rd quarter of 1912 in Leicester, aged 58. Francis’s father married Elizabeth Atkins in the 3rd quarter of 1915 in Leicester.
Francis enlisted/attested into the Territorial Force on the 11th November 1914 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, and was allotted the service number 3261. He gave his age as 23 years 3 months and his present address as 13, Swan Street, Sileby, Leicestershire.
His medical examination took place in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire on the 11th November 1914 and recorded that he was 5 feet 3 inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 30¼ and 32¾ inches and that his physical development was described as fair. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, John Tom Johnson, 13, Swan Street, Sileby. 38, Chester Street, Leicester.
During his period of military service the following events of note occurred:-
Joined. Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 11/11/14.
Posted. To 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 11/11/14.
Embodied service commenced. 11/11/14.
Suffered a gunshot wound to the brain. In the Field. 23/9/15.
Francis was admitted to King George’s Hospital, on the 5th October suffering from a gunshot wound to the head and hand, the following was a report written at the time of his stay: On admission was in a critical condition, semi conscious, he was wounded in France, probably on Sept. 26th. Large cerebral hernia, very foul. On the 9th Oct. the hernia separated. Oct. 14/15 Patient died at 4.30am.
Died of wounds. In King George’s Hospital, Stamford Street, London S.E. 14/10/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 11/11/14 – 28/6/15. 230 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 29/6/15 – 4/10/15. 98 days.
Home Service. 5/10/15 – 14/10/15. 10 days.
Total Service. 338 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Francis’s surviving service record amounts to a total of seventeen pages, of which only eight pages relate directly to his military service, and these are in extremely poor condition, the hand written information in some cases is barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into some of the events that took place during his period of service.
The War Diary records: 23 Sept-15 - TRENCHES. At 9.00 am enemy universal shell into A1. Between 12.20 and 12.50 pm our bombardment of HOOGE and in front of 49. and 50.
On Tuesday, October 19th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – Military Funeral at Sileby. – The funeral of Frank Johnson 5th Leicester’s, took place at Sileby Cemetery yesterday afternoon. The first part of the service was conducted at the Wesleyan Chapel by the Rev. H. E. Bennett, of Syston. A great crowd assembled, hundreds being unable to gain admittance to the chapel. The factories were all closed to allow the employees to attend the funeral which was of a full military character. Three volleys were fired over the grave and the “Last Post” sounded by his comrades. Pte. Johnson, whose age was 24, was the son of Mr. Thomas Johnson, of Sileby, was employed by Messrs. Crick and Co., of Sileby, until his enlistment early in the present year. He was wounded at Hooge on September 23rd, and died on October 14 at the King’s Royal Hospital. He is the fourth late member of the Wesleyan Bible Class to lose his life in the present war.
On Friday October 22nd 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – MILITARY FUNERAL. The funeral of Pte. Frank Johnson, 5th Leicester’s, took place at Sileby Cemetery on Monday afternoon. The first part of the service was conducted at the Wesleyan Chapel by the Rev. H. E. Bennett, of Syston. A great crowd assembled, hundreds being unable to gain admittance to the chapel. The factories were all closed to allow the employees to attend the funeral which was of a full military character. Three volleys were fired over the grave and the “Last Post” sounded by his comrades. Pte. Johnson, whose age was 24, was the son of Mr. Thomas Johnson, of Sileby, was employed by Messrs. Crick and Co., of Sileby, until his enlistment early in the present year. He was wounded at Hooge on September 23, and died on October 14th, at the King’s Royal Hospital. He is the fourth late member of the Wesleyan Bible Class to lose his life in the present war. Another correspondent writes; Great respect was shown by the parishioners on Monday to one of the brave lads from this village who has given his life to his country, viz., Pte. Frank Johnson. Deceased who was 24 years of age, belonged to the 4th Leicester’s, and had been in the trenches in France for some time. About three weeks ago his father received a telegram stating that his son had been wounded with shrapnel in the brain, and was lying in a hospital at London in a delirious condition. Mr. Johnson and his daughter at once went to London, and found that the wound was too dangerous to permit of an operation, owing to a piece of shrapnel being lodged in the brain. Since then the unfortunate young man has been gradually sinking, and he expired in the hospital on Friday. His father brought the body home, and it was laid to rest in Sileby cemetery on Monday. Some 24 members of the Leicestershire Yeomanry from Garendon Park marched with the funeral procession from Cemetery-road to the Wesleyan Chapel, and subsequently from there to the cemetery. After the body had been lowered to its last resting place the soldiers fired three volleys over the grave, and the Last Post was sounded. The greatest sympathy was extended to the bereaved father. Some lovely wreaths and other floral tributes were sent as follows:- Wreath from father and step mother, in loving remembrance; harp, in affectionate memory, from his sisters Alice, Edith and Annie; wreath from his brother and sister Tom and Annie, and Mrs. Scarborough, For King and Country; wreath in affectionate remembrance from his friends Clara and Jennie; wreath from a soldier’s mother with deepest sympathy; wreath from Mrs. Simmons, with deepest sympathy; flowers from Mrs. Staples; flowers from Mrs. Weston and Nellie with deepest sympathy, He died for his country, he answered the call; wreath from Mr. and Mrs. Claridge and Mrs. Moody, He gave his life for his King and country; flowers from Aladys A. Collington, to a brave hero and friend; a token of sympathy, from Mrs. Church; a wreath, deepest sympathy from his fiancée and intimate friend; flowers from Mrs. Immin in respect of one of the brave boys; flowers from Mrs. Harriman, a token of respect; flowers from Mrs. Phillips, in a brave soldier; wreath from Mr. and Mrs. Wiles, King-st., a token of sympathy; wreath from Mrs. Bostock and Mrs. Taylor, he died for King and country, he answered the call; flowers from Aunt and Uncle, with love and sympathy, in loving memory; from Pte. C. Draycott, Pte. G. Hollis, and of his comrades, he died for all; flowers from Mrs. R. Ward, with deepest sympathy; wreath from Mr. and Mrs. Roffin, family and Kate, at rest with brother Alf. Their labours over. Their willing hands will toil no more. On earth there’s strife, in heaven there’s rest. They’ll miss them most, who love them best; cross from C. B. Yates, in the midst of life we are in death; with deepest sympathy from his beloved companion Leonard Paling, Mr. and Mrs. Paling; wreath with deepest sympathy from the members of the Sileby Liberal Club; wreath and globe, a token of respect and deepest sympathy from his workmates of T. Crick and Co; wreath, a token of respect from his employers T. Crick and Co. The grave was lined with flowers by Mrs. Fisher and Mrs Immin and friend.