Description
British War Medal, J30595 Victor Johnson, A.B. HMS Defence, Royal Navy, Killed in Action at the Battle of Jutland, joined the Navy in 1914 aged 16.
Officially impressed: “J30595 V. Johnson. A.B. R.N.”
Victor Johnson was born on 9th November 1897 in Bristol, Gloucestershire.
He worked as an Errand Boy before joining the Royal Navy as Boy 2nd Class on 14th April 1914 when 16 years old.
He saw the following service:
HMS Impregnable, Boy II, 14th April 1914 – 29th October 1914, during this time promoted to Boy 1st Class on 29th October 1914.
HMS Vivid I, 30th October 1914 – 28th Nov 1914.
HMS Defiance (School Ship), 29th November 1914 – 7th Jan 1915
HMS Vivid I, 8th Jan 1915 – 8th Jan 1915
HMS Defence, 9th January 1915 – 31st May 1916, when discharged dead being killed in action in the North Sea on 31st May 1916.
During this time he had become of age, becoming Ordinary Seaman on 20th May 1915, followed by Able Seaman on 2nd Nov 1915.
During the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, HMS Defence had served as the flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, leading the First Cruiser Squadron. The squadron formed the starboard flank of the cruiser screen, positioned ahead of the main body of the Grand Fleet. Defence was just to the right of the centre of the line.
At 17:47, Defence and HMS Warrior, the leading two ships of the squadron, spotted the German II Scouting Group and opened fire. Their shells fell short, and the two ships turned to port in pursuit, cutting in front of the Battlecruiser HMS Lion, which was forced to turn away to avoid a collision. Shortly afterwards, they spotted the disabled German light cruiser SMS Wiesbaden and closed to engage.
When the two ships reached a range of 5,500 yards (5,000 meters) from Wiesbaden, they were spotted at 18:05 by the German Battlecruiser SMS Derfflinger and four battleships, which were less than 8,000 yards (7,300 meters) away. The fire from the German ships was heavy, and Defence was struck by two salvos that caused the aft 9.2-inch magazine to explode. The resulting fire spread via the ammunition passages to the adjacent 7.5-inch magazines, which detonated in turn.
The ship exploded at 18:20 with the loss of all hands. Between 893 and 903 men were killed.
The Family’s Military Record “Magnificent Record of Patriotic Service” was recalled in the Western Daily Press 13th March 1915:
“BRISTOL FAMILY’S MILITARY RECORD.
A magnificent record of patriotic service for King and country is that to which Mr John Johnson, of 5, Wilson Avenue, St. Paul’s, Bristol, may lay claim. Mr Johnson is 60 years of age, and is on the staff of Messrs Billing, Jarrett Read, and Co., Ltd., advertising contractors, in whose employ he has been for upwards of 35 years. As a young man, for five years he was a member of the Volunteer Engineers, and no fewer than nine sons have served their country in the Navy or Army. One, described as “a typical naval lad,” lost his life on H.M.S. Monmouth, whose fate in the fight with a superior force in the Pacific is still fresh in memory. This was Albert Johnson (23). The other eight and their respective positions in the King’s service are as follow:—
John Johnson (33), Royal Field Artillery (T.), signed for Imperial service.
Edward Johnson (28), Royal Horse Artillery, ammunition column.
Frederick Johnson (26), Royal Field Artillery (T.), Imperial service.
Arthur Johnson (21), Royal Horse Artillery, India.
Ernest Johnson, 6th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (T.), Imperial service.
VICTOR JOHNSON (17), H.M.S. Defence.
Percy Johnson (13) and Stanley Johnson (12), cadets.
Mr Johnson, senr., has three nephews serving, viz.:—Edward Hurley, 4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (T.), Imperial service; Thomas Downton, Transport Department (T.), Imperial service; and William Hurley, 4th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (T.), Imperial service. A brother-in-law, William Lambson, is at present invalided home, a member of the Royal Scotch Fusiliers. A truly remarkable record!”