Robert William Johnson was born on 9 February 1882 in Dalton-le-Dale, Easington, County Durham, the son and the second child of Robert Johnson and Rachel Johnson née Carr. His father was a brick-maker.
On 8 August 1900 he enlisted for eight years in the Royal Regiment of Artillery in Newcastle and was posted to 'O' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery as a Driver, service number 11707. In the 1901 census he is shown as a Driver in the 92nd Battery of the Royal Field Artillery in the Royal Artillery Barracks, Wellington Lines, Aldershot, Hampshire. He was posted to India from 30 October 1901 and whilst there he applied on 29 April 1907 to extend his service to twelve years. This was granted and he eventually returned to England on 21 January 1910.
In the 1911 census he is described as a Driver attached to 'BB' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, St John's Wood Barracks, Ordnance Road, London, NW. On 6 May 1911 he was apprehended and convicted of assault. He was fined £2-0s-0d or given the option of imprisonment with hard labour for one month. He paid the fine. At the end of his twelve years' service he was discharged on 7 August 1912 and placed on the reserve list.
On 29 August 1912 he married Nelly Jane Kippin (1885-1968) at St John's Church, Hampstead. The marriage register shows them both residing at 3 Perrins Court, Hampstead and his occupation was recorded as a horse keeper. Nelly Jane Kippin was a younger sister of Henry James Edmund Kippin who is also listed on the New Court WW1 memorial. They had four children: Letitia Mary Nelly Johnson (1913-1943), Margaret Lillie Johnson (1915-1989), Dora Rachel Johnson (1919-1996) and Ethel Florence Johnson (1923-2004). When their first daughter was baptised on 23 November 1913 at St John's Church, Hampstead, the baptismal register shows the family living at 2 Chenies Place, Kings Cross and gives his occupation as a horse keeper for the Great Northern Railway.
When war was declared on Germany on 4 August 1914, he was mobilized the following day at Woolwich and posted on 6 August 1914 to the 10th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery. He was attached to 'G' Battery of the Royal Horse Artillery and entered France on 5 November 1914 and was subsequently awarded the 1914 Star with the 5th Aug-22nd Nov 1914 clasp, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
When their second daughter was baptised on 11 July 1915 at St John's Church, Hampstead, the baptismal register shows the family living at 25 New Buildings, Flask Walk, Hampstead and his occupation was given as a Driver, Royal Horse Artillery. He is shown as Johnson R.W., R.H.A. on the WW1 memorial at New Buildings.
The 1939 England and Wales Register shows him still living at 25 New Buildings and lists his occupation as a railway stableman. Electoral registers show he remained at this address until he died, aged 68 years, on 31 August 1950 his death being registered in the Hampstead registration district.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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