Charles JOHNSON

Regimental number8/4452
Date of birth5 May 1878
Place of birthWaipukurau
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationBushman
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation37
Height5' 8"
Weight168 lbs
Next of kinMother, Mrs O Morgan, Matiere, Taumarunui
Previous military serviceNil (previously - 1914 - rejected for NZEF enlistment on account of eczema ['since attended to'])
Enlistment date9 December 1915
Place of enlistmentGisborne
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 11th Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Battalion, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on 1 April 1916
The Infantry component of the 11th Reinforcements left New Zealand on board two ships (HMNZT 49 'Maunganui' and HMNZT 50 'Tahiti'). It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. The Nominal Roll gives the date of departure as 1 April 1916; harbour records indicate that the actual date of embarkation was 2 April 1916.
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 7 November 1918
Discharge date16 January 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 2 April 1916; disembarked Suez, 3 May 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 10 May 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France (date not recorded); attached to NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 31 May 1916.

Wounded in action, and admitted to No 3 NZ Field Ambulance, 15 August 1916, and transferred same day to No 8 Casualty Clearing Station (gas); discharged to duty, 26 August 1916.

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 12 July 1917 (disordered action of the heart), and transferred same day to No 4 [7?] Australian Field Ambulance; rejoined Bn, 27 July 1917.

On leave to United Kingdom, 4 August 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 11 August 1917.

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 13 October 1917 (injured leg), and transferred same day to No 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station, and then to No 3 Australian Stationary Hospital, Abbeville; transferred to No 5 Convalescent Depot, Cayeux, 1 November 1917; to NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 30 November 1917.

Admitted to No 51 General Hospital, Etaples, 15 December 1917 (venereal disease); discharged to NZ Base Depot, 10 April 1918.

Classified 'Unfit' by NZ Standing Medical Board, and detached to United Kingdom, 1 October 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Plymouth on board HMNZT 'Ulimaroa', 7 November 1918; discharged (no longer physically fit for War Service on account of illness contracted on Active Service: malaria and neurasthenia), 16 January 1919.

Total war service: 3 years 39 days (of which 2 years 263 days were abroad)

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death30 March 1953 Gisborne
Age at death74
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 28, p. 14
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805