Arthur Reeson Johnson 1909-1943

Arthur Reeson Johnson was born 5th April 1909 in Radcliffe on Trent, the younger son of Arthur Johnson, agricultural auctioneer, who died 1928, and Alice Aleanor Reeson; his brother John Roger known as Jack was born 1907.

He was a keen cricketer and a particularly fine fast bowler.  As well as playing for Radcliffe on Trent Cricket Club he was captain of the Notts Cricket Association East team.

In 1932 he married Frances E Hallam, sister of Robert Hallam who was killed in WW1. They had two sons Charles Roger, born 1935 and Robert Arthur, born 1937.

Arthur’s mother Alice married Lancelot St John Wright in 1938; they lived on Shelford Road.

In the 1939 census Arthur, his wife and 2 sons were living on Bingham Road, The Harlequin; he was employed as an Agricultural auctioneer and valuer.

He enlisted as a Lieutenant in 1st Battalion Green Howards. Service no 177635

1st Battalion Green Howards proceeded to France in Autumn 1939 with the British Expeditionary Force. They were brought back to England in early 1940 and sailed to Norway as part of an urgent task force to try to hold back the German invasion. They were in action at Otta, where for 24 hours the 1st Green Howards held back seven German Battalions in the face of Stuka dive bombers and heavy artillery. At the fall of Norway they returned to England and were then sent to India in 1942. They returned to action in Europe during the landings in Sicily and suffered heavy losses.

Arhur Reeson Johnson died of wounds on 21st July 1943 at Catania in Sicily, his Commonwealth War Grave is in Catania War Cemetery.

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, Green Howards advancing through the rubble in Catania, Sicily – July 1943 c IWM

Servicemen who are remembered on Radcliffe on Trent War Memorial WW2

ERNEST NEVILLE BEMROSE
ROWLAND BURDETT COY
DONALD PHILLIPS DURRANT
GORDON SCOTT ECCLES
JOHN THOMAS FLOWER
JOHN SHELTON GISBORNE
ARTHUR REESON JOHNSON
CLAUDE MALLYON
JOHN MARSTON
WILLIAM ARTHUR MARWOOD

WILLIAM BRYAN PEET
SAMUEL EDWARD PIKE
LANCELOT NELSON ROWBOTHAM
CYRIL HARRY SANDS
WALTER JAMES SAVAGE
JOHN SAMUEL SMALLEY
WILLIAM SMITH
HAROLD SPEED
JOHN UNDERWOOD