Major-General D G Johnson VC CB DSO & Bar MC



Dudley Graham Johnson was born on 13th Feb 1884 in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire. He was a South Wales Borderer but at the end of the First World War he was a Lieut-Colonel attached to the 2nd Battallion Royal Sussex Regiment near the Sambre Canal in France. The 2nd Infantry Brigade, to which the Royal Sussex belonged, was ordered to cross the canal by the lock south of Catillon. They were halted 100 yards from the canal by a heavy enemy barrage on 4th Nov 1918. Lt-Col Johnson personally led an assault under more heavy fire so that the attack broke up. He led another attempt after reorganising the assault and bridging parties. This time the attack was successful and it was recognised that it could not have been done without his selfless leadership. He was given the VC for this action which appeared in the London Gazette of 6th Jan 1919.

1900 Served in Wiltshire Regiment in Boer War
1903 Transferred to South Wales Borderers
1928 - 1932 Commanded 2nd Bn North Staffs Reg
1933 - 1936 Commanded 12th Secunderabad Infantry Brigade
1938 - 1940 Commanded 4th Division
1940 GOC Aldershot Command
1944 30th June - 31st Dec 1949 Colonel of the South Wales Borderers
1975 Died on 21st Dec at Church Crookham, Hants.



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