Albert A Johnson

Albert Agustaff Johnson 81480

Lance Corporal, 41st Reinforcements F Company

New Zealand Expeditionary Force

16 March 1890 - 4 June 1971

Albert was my great uncle.
His wife's sister was Louie, my maternal great grandmother .

I have researched the following information about Albert 
from his military records and other related texts. 
I have endeavored to record the story 
of his involvement in the war as accurately as possible. 

Albert Agustaff Johnson was born in Opanake, near Wanganui on 16 March 1890. He was the son of Norweigan-born Benjamin Johnson, and his New Zealand-born wife Alice. It seems that Albert was christened in the Church of England. 

Albert married Ada Keymer (14 January 1884 - 27 October 1974) on 5 July 1915 in Birkdale, Auckland, by Reverend Jones, possibly at her parent's home.

Albert and Ada's first child, Edna Myrtle, was born in Kaponga, Taranaki, on 28 May 1916. 

At some stage Albert became the cheesemaker manager at the Dairy Company in Waimamaku. 

Albert signed up for war on 17 July 1917 aged 27, in Kaikohe. He was attached to F Company, 41st Reinforcements, New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He was sent to Trentham in May 1918 where he received two lots of inoculations. 

On 21 July 1918, the week before leaving New Zealand, Albert was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. He embarked on 'Transport 108' from Wellington to London on 27 July 1918. Ada (and two year old Edna) went to live with or near her sister Bertha Jarrett who was living at Ruakura State Farm, Hamilton. Later the Jarretts and Ada moved to 73 Ardmore Street, Ponsonby. Two other contact addresses for Ada were given as care of her father, Waimamaku, Hokianga, and care of her sister, Mrs J Oldham (Edith), at Victoria Street, Hamilton.

On arrival in London on 4 October 1918, the troops disembarked the ship and marched into a camp. At this time Albert's rank was reverted to that of Rifleman. 

The war officially ended on 11 November 1918, so Albert was fortunate not to see front line action. 

In January 1919, while overseas, Albert's kit mysteriously disappeared. An inquiry was held concerning the loss and it was found that Albert was not responsible. The kit was subsequently replaced at public expense. 

Albert received a medical exam at Brocton Camp, on 20 March 1919. This was his final check-up before the conclusion of his military service. Two days later he was marched into Codford Camp, which was located not too far from Sling Camp. 

Albert returned to New Zealand on the ship Ruahine which departed from Plymouth on 19 May 1919. He was officially discharged from military service on 5 August 1919 after serving a total of one year and 77 days. He received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Albert's military records indicate that he returned to his job as cheesemaker manager in Waimamaku at the end of the war.

Following the war, Albert and Ada had two more children:

• George Johnson (19 January 1921 - 2011). George was probably named after Ada's younger brother who died on 12 October 1917 during the Battle for Passchendaele.
• Esselmont Ada (21 June 1922 - 2005)

Albert's mother-in-law, Mary Keymer, died on 29 May 1936. He would have taken Ada and the children to her funeral at the Ponsonby Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sunday 1 June 1936. Following the funeral, Mary was buried at the Purewa Cemetery in eastern Auckland.

Albert and Ada's daugther Edna married William Ernest Cox (2 November 1913 - 2000) on 3 September 1947. They had no children.

Electoral Rolls show that in 1957, Albert and Ada lived on West Coast Road, Oratia, in West Auckland. 

Albert died on 4 June 1971 aged 81. He was buried at the Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland, Protestant Berm A Row 12, Plot 91.

Ada passed away on 27 October 1974. She was 90 years old. Ada was buried with her husband at the Waikumete Cemetery.


Sources:
Births Deaths Marriages
Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph - Albert A Johnson
Archway - Military Personnel File
Auckland Council - Cemetery Search
The Stacey's from Somerset - genealogy website
Family records compliled by Jessie McLean