Arthur Dennis Johnson
Lieutenant Arthur Dennis Johnson – Royal Field Artillery
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| Arthur Dennis Johnson Oystermouth Cemetery credit - findagrave |
Arthur Dennis Johnson was the only son of Arthur William and Clara
Agnes Johnson, of 25 Sketty Road, Swansea. He was buried with honour
at Oystermouth Cemetery.
Early Life and Family Background
Arthur William Johnson and Clara Agnes Solomon
Marriage Certificate
St. James church
Arthur Dennis Johnson was born in 1885, the
son of Arthur William Johnson and Clara Agnes Solomon. His
parents were married at St. James’ Church, Swansea, on 30 November
1882.
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| 1891 Census |
According to the 1891 Census, the Johnson family were living at Newton, near Mumbles. Arthur William, aged 36, was employed as an Insurance Agent, while Clara, aged 33, had been born in London. They had two children: Arthur Denis (6) and Clara Phyllis (2).
The 1901 Census for the family has not survived, but
it is known that Arthur William Johnson died in 1909, aged 54.
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| 1911 Census |
By the 1911 Census, Arthur Dennis Johnson, aged 26, was living at 8 Mirador Crescent, Swansea, with his mother Clara, then aged 53, and his younger sister Margaret Susan Ailsa, aged 14, who was attending school. Arthur was employed as a Commission Agent, a profession that often-involved sales, brokerage, or insurance work — possibly continuing his father’s line of business.
Military Service – Royal Field Artillery
With the outbreak of the First World War, Arthur
enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery, the branch of the army
responsible for operating medium-calibre field guns and howitzers that
supported the infantry on the battlefield. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant,
a role demanding leadership, technical skill, and the ability to command men
under pressure.
The Royal Field Artillery (RFA) formed the largest
part of Britain’s artillery service and was vital both overseas and at home.
Many RFA officers, including Lieutenant Johnson, undertook home-based duties
such as training, equipment testing, and coordination of munitions supplies —
essential work for maintaining the fighting strength of the British
Expeditionary Force.
Death at Bobbingworth, Essex
Lieutenant Arthur Dennis Johnson died on 16th
October 1917 at Bobbingworth, Essex, aged 33. Bobbingworth,
near Chipping Ongar, lay within the Eastern Command area and
acted as a satellite training site of the Royal Artillery Depot at Woolwich.
It was one of several Essex locations — along with Ongar and Writtle
— used for Royal Field Artillery training and reserve depots during the
war.
These depots prepared newly enlisted men, gun teams, and
officers before deployment to the Western Front. At sites like Bobbingworth,
officers were responsible for drilling recruits in gunnery, horse management,
range-finding, and the operation of field pieces such as the 18-pounder gun and
the 4.5-inch howitzer. The work was often hazardous, involving live-fire
exercises, ammunition handling, and the physical rigours of artillery life, all
of which led to many accidents and illnesses.
It was while serving in one of these capacities that
Lieutenant Johnson died at Bobbingworth. His death, though occurring far from
the front line, was the result of dedicated service in one of the army’s most
demanding branches.
His body was returned home to Swansea and buried with
honour at Oystermouth Cemetery.
Although his burial is recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission,
there is no military headstone marking his grave. Instead, his resting
place is marked by a private family memorial, reflecting his family’s
personal tribute to his life and service.
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| South Wales Daily Post |
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| Herald of Wales |
His funeral was reported in both the South Wales Daily
Post and the Herald of Wales, which noted that his mother, Mrs.
Clara Agnes Johnson, was residing at 25 Sketty Road at the time of
his death.
Legacy
Lieutenant Arthur Dennis Johnson’s life reflects the
quiet sense of duty and service of Swansea’s professional families during the
First World War. Though his death occurred while stationed in Britain rather
than overseas, his contribution formed part of the essential training and
organisational work that sustained the British Army’s artillery arm.
His grave at Oystermouth Cemetery stands among those
of others who served in the Great War — a lasting reminder of Swansea’s broad
contribution, both at the front and at home, to the nation’s wartime effort.
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