Personal
Information
Sheet

Name: Frederick William Johnson

DOB: 23rd April 1895

Rank: Chief Petty Officer Writer

Service Identity Number: C/MX 53641

Service/Regiment/Corp: Royal Navy

Unit:

Died: 2nd October 1942

Chief Petty Officer Writer Frederick William Johnson. Frederick was lost in the sinking of the Lisbon Maru.

Click image to expand and see all images

Personal history before the war

Frederick was born in Gillingham Kent on 23rd April 1895 to parents John and Alice Mary Johnson. Prior to enlisting in the Royal Navy he worked as a clerk. He enlisted at the age of 19 on 29th October 1914 serving throughout WWI and the inter-war years, re-enlisting on 29th October 1936 for a further 5 years. He rose from Writer 3rd Class on enlistment to Petty Officer Writer in January 1924 and finally Chief Petty Officer Writer from December 1924.

Ship/Shore establishments Frederick served on prior to the outbreak of WWII were:

  • HMS Pembroke
  • HMS Titania
  • HMS Attentive
  • HMS Commonwealth
  • HMS Ramillies
  • HMS Delphinium
  • HMS Enterprise

Frederick married Mildred Victoria Davis.

Wartime experience

At the outbreak of WWII Frederick was serving on HMS Tarantula an "Insect" class gunboat at Hong Kong. He then served on HMS Tern a "Tern" class river gunboat and finally HMS Tamar from 1st November 1940.

Frederick was one of the POWs embarked on the Lisbon Maru and in a letter from Reginald Arthur King (also a Chief Petty Officer Writer) dated 25th July 1946 he says:

I last saw him on the upper deck of the ship just before she finally sank, and in all the confusion that followed it is impossible to state what actually happened to him."

It was family "knowledge" that Frederick could not swim.

Additional photographs (Click an image to expand and see all images)
Frederick William Johnson with his father-in-law John Davis. Frederick was lost in the sinking of the Lisbon Maru
Chief Petty Officer Writer Frederick William Johnson aboard HMS Ramillies on which he served from 1st August 1922 - 29th April 1924. Frederick was lost in the sinking of the Lisbon Maru
Chief Petty Officer Writer Frederick William Johnson relaxing with his pipe at Hong Kong harbour date unknown. Frederick was lost in the sinking of the Lisbon Maru.
Portions of a letter written by Chief Petty Officer Writer Reginald Arthur King regarding Chief Petty Officer Writer Frederick William Johnson who was lost in the sinking of the Lisbon Maru.

The above information was provided by Rob Wilkinson, grandson of Frederick William Johnson.

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