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Auction: 8010 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Militaria
Lot: 236

A Great War Group of Three to Private T. Johnson, Royal West Kent Regiment, Killed in Action, 14.9.1914 1914 Star, with Bar (L-7165 Pte. T. Johnson. 1/R.W.Kent. R.); British War and Victory Medals (L-7165 Pte. T. Johnson. R.W.Kent. R.), minor edge bruising to last two, therefore very fine or better (3) Estimate £ 180-220 L/7165 Private Thomas Johnson, born Ash, Wrotham; served during the Great War with the 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment on the Western Front from 15.8.1914; he was killed in action 14.9.1914; the battalion took part in the battle at the River Aisne, during the attempt to seize the bridge at Missy-sur-Aisne; the Battalion War Diary entry for the 13th/14th September 1914 gives the following, ´´Battalion marched with orders to seize the bridge over the Aisne at Missy-sur-Aisne, B and C companies were in the vanguard on arrival at the bridge. The former company, under Captain Fisher, moved by the road running on the West side of the Gobinne Wood against the bridge, while C company remained on the West edge of the village of Sermoise; the rest of the battalion (less transport in the hills South of Ciry) being dispersed in the centre of the village. B company came under heavy fire from the North bank of the river, Captain Fisher and others being killed, but succeeded in pushing a section up to the river bank. This section was a little later ordered to withdraw to the Northern edge of Gobinne Wood. During this withdrawal Lieut. H.J. Vicatt who had assumed command of the company was killed. The company was withdrawn to a point on the railway about a quarter mile East of the village where it entrenched. Lieut. E.F. Moulton Barrett taking on command. At about 6.30pm C company moved down to the bridge from the West side of Sermoise and under Major Buckle with the assistance of 59th Field Company RE prepared to transport the battalion to the Northern bank by a boat and raft in close proximity to the permanent bridge.... C company was closely followed to the bank by A and B the latter having been relieved in its position by D company. The crossing was commenced by sending over only 5 men at a time.... the battalion was safely across by 1.30am the 14th inst. When only about 60 men had been got over, the enemy, whose strength and position was quite unknown, opened fire´´; the battalion consolidated the position and were to remain in situe until the end of the month; Johnson is commemorated on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France.

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£280