HAROLD JOHNSON

Another casualty in the struggles around Polygon Wood was Sergeant Harold Johnson. He had been a publican at the Papanui Hotel, and was thus a well-known local identity. In January 1917, he arrived in England and three months later was sent to France. After the Messines battle, he was promoted to Lance Corporal. In August 1917, he was evacuated from the front line suffering from scabies, rejoining his unit a few days later. He was promoted to full Corporal in September, and later to Sergeant to replace the wounded Sergeant Brown. He was killed in action on 4 November 1918, one week before the end of the war.

Back to The Men from Papanui