2nd Lieutenant Edward Tregonwell JOHNS
6th (Service) Battalion Dorset Regiment attached to the 1st Battalion

Date of birth: 20th August 1893
Date of death: 4th April 1918

Died of wounds aged 24
Buried at Bac-du Sud British Cemetery Bailleuval Plot II Row A Grave 25
Edward Tregonwell Johns was born at Ringwood on the 20th of August 1893 the second son of Francis Arthur Johns, a solicitor, and Ada (nee Blew) Johns of "St Nicholas", Ringwood in Hampshire.

He was educated at Lancing College where he was in News House from May 1909 to April 1910 and was a member of the Officer Training Corps throughout his time at the school. On leaving school he became a student of farming and worked for Mrs A.B. Pratt of "Hillside", Odiham in Hampshire.

Following the outbreak of war he enlisted at Winchester as Private 991 in the Hampshire Yeomanry (Carabineers) on the 6th of August 1914. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet six inches tall. He volunteered for overseas service on the 8th of September 1914.

On the 22nd of December 1914 he was admitted to 1/1st South Western Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance suffering from influenza and was discharged on the 27th of December. He was admitted there once again between the 24th and the 29th of April 1915 suffering from pharyngitis. On the 3rd of September 1915 he was admitted there once again suffering from neuralgia and returned to his unit on the 5th of September. He was sent to Eastbourne from the 14th to the 22nd of September 1915 to have his teeth examined. On the 20th of February 1916 he was admitted to the 1st South Western Brigade Reception Hospital with a fractured head of the 2nd metacarpal of the right index finger. On the 20th of March he was transferred to the 2nd Eastern General Hospital at Brighton

On the 5th of June 1916 he was absent without leave and, at a hearing at Codford the following day, was confined to barracks for two days.

He embarked for France on the 24th of June 1916 where he joined B Squadron, 1/1st Hampshire Yeomanry (Carabineers) in the field. On the 9th of December 1916 he applied for a commission and returned to England for officer training on the 17th of December where he reported at the Hampshire Yeomanry Depot on the 19th of December. On the 8th of January 1917 he joined No. 3 Officer Cadet Battalion at Bristol and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Dorset Regiment on the 26th of April 1917. He was attached to the 6th Battalion of his regiment for war service.

On the 13th of August 1917 he was in trenches to the east of Arras when he was taken ill with trench fever and was evacuated to the rear.

His father received the following letter from the War Office dated the 20th of August 1917:- "Lieut. E.T. Johns Dorset Regt was admitted No. 2 Red Cross Hospital Rouen Aug 19th with pyrexia of uncertain origin slight. Further reports sent when received."

On the 26th of August he embarked at Le Havre and landed at Southampton the following day from where he was taken to the Southern General Hospital at Bristol. He was discharged from hospital on the 8th of September.

A Medical Board was convened there on the 13th of September 1917 to consider his case:- "He fell ill in France 13/8/17 with fever, headache and shivering. He was transferred to this hospital from France 27/8/17. he is now better. The board recommends 3 weeks leave. "

After his period of leave he was ordered to report to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at Wyke Regis Camp in Dorset.

On the 8th of December 1917 a further Medical Board sat at Weymouth Hospital:- "His general condition is improving and he states he's now feeling quite well. He is fit for a course of instruction at bombing school, Weymouth."

Following his course a Medical Board sat once more on the 29th of December:- "He states he contracted trench fever when arriving in the trenches east of Arras and was invalided to England on 28th of August (sic). He had three exacerbations of temperature within three weeks. He has now quite recovered and is good health and complains of no symptoms. He has regained his usual weight."

The Board concluded that he was fit for general service. He returned to France where he was attached to the 1st Battalion of his regiment.

On the 31st of March 1918 the 1st Battalion Dorset Regiment marched from their billets in Harbarcq and entered trenches at Monchy where they relieved the 11th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. The relief was complete by 1.10am the following morning. On the 3rd of April 1918 Edward Johns led his platoon in an attack in which one other rank was killed and he, and two other men were wounded. He was evacuated to 91st Field Ambulance where he died the following day.

His father received the following telegram dated the 5th of April 1918:-

"Deeply regret 2Lt E.T. Johns Dorset Regt died of wounds April third. The Army Council express sympathy."

He is commemorated on the war memorial at Ringwood.

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