George William Johnson
The roll of honour in Daresbury church records a GW Johnson as having served in WW1, so I have assumed that this is George William Johnson, born in Weaverham, who appears on military records.
The story of George has been particularly difficult to unravel. There was more than one George Johnson born in Weaverham around 1865/1875, which has led to much confusion.
George William Johnson was born in about 1866 in Weaverham. His parents were Samuel and Mary and he had at least three brothers and one sister. The family appears on the 1871 census and is living in Weaverham. To make matters more complicated, George didn’t always give his true age. However, from what I can piece together, this is his story.
His attestation papers for WW1 say that he had previously served in the forces. I have copies of all attestation papers from ‘Find My Past’.
He served in the Cheshire Regiment from 1885-1897 (serving in the Mediterranean, Egypt and the East Indies), the Devonshire Regiment from 1897-1902 (fighting in the Boer War), the South Wales Borderers from 1902-1905 (from where he was discharged as being totally unfit for service’) and the Cheshire regiment from 1903-1907.
What is his link with Moore? George’s family had moved to Runcorn by 1881 and his brother, Alexander, was living there in 1919, so the assumption must be made that when George left the Cheshire Regiment in 1907, he came here because of family connections. However, an added complication is that on his attestation papers for 1903, he declares a wife and three children, living in Birmingham. This needs further investigation.
He rejoined the Cheshires in August 1914, regimental number 11645 (also given as 13032). Just a few months later, in February 1915, George deserted. There followed a court of enquiry in Birkenhead on 8 March 1915. After this, there is no more information about George.
His brother, Alexander, was contacted on 12 August 1919 and asked for information about George, but he had none.
I would love to know more about George. If you can help, please get in touch.