Gunner & Chief Observer Bernard Richmond Johnson Royal Artillery & Royal Observer Corps
The Man Bernard Richmond Johnson was born on 3rd April 1919 in Wisbech, son of George William and Ann Johnson nee Canham and had one older sister Eileen Barbara. On leaving school, Bernard’s occupation was given as Clerk, and on 26th April 1939, shortly after his 20th birthday and before the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted at Romford into the Royal Artillery Territorial Army as a Gunner and with service number 917661. At this time he lived with his family at 76 Cambridge Avenue, Gidea Park, Romford, Essex. At the time of his enlistment Bernard was described as 5’.7” tall, weighing 142 lbs with a 34” chest. He had a fresh complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair, was a Roman Catholic and graded A1 medically. Bernard served at home during the first four years of the war, qualifying as a Group C Class III Clerk on 7th August 1941 by passing his trade test, and was appointed Unit Clerk. On 30th April 1945, following numerous inoculations, he was posted to Burma, in anticipation of the land assault on Japan. However he was spared following the dropping of the Atom Bombs on the Japanese mainland and returned to the UK on 17th August and discharged from the RA into the reserve on 27th May 1946 being entitled to five chevrons for his service. For his wartime service Bernard was awarded the Burma Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’, none of which he claimed until 1964. He was ineligible for the 1939-45 Star as a man who served in a theatre of war during the last six months of the qualifying time, only received the theatre star and not the 39-45 Star. During the third quarter of 1949 Bernard married Sonia Mary Furley in Exeter. During 1960 aged 41 Bernard joined No 10 Group Royal Observer Corps in Exeter as an Observer. He was promoted to Leading Observer in November 1963 and Chief Observer in October 1970, working at the Exeter Group Control and training members of Crew 1. In November 1973 he was awarded the ROC Long Service and Good Conduct Medal representing 12 years service and on 1st August 1982 was presented a Certificate of Commendation for his services to the ROC by the Earl of Morley, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Devon. In later life, during the early 1990s, Bernard lived at G3 Sydenham House, Blackboy Road, Exeter and was a member of the No 10 Group Road Observer Corps Association and passed away during the last quarter of 2000 aged 80 still living in Exeter, Sonia outliving him and dying three years later in 2003 aged 78.
The Story The group of medals awarded to Bernard Richmond Johnson were acquired from a dealer on e-Bay on 12th December 2015, having been seen and ‘followed’ a few days beforehand. They were of immediate interest because of the double long service, and scarce combination of the Efficiency and Royal Observer Corps Long Service Medals. There was also some important paperwork, confirming award of all the medals and specifically the fact he was ineligible for the 1939-45 Star, as well as his Army Service Book, Commendation Certificate and the all-important photograph of the recipient. From the paperwork and Ancestry.uk it was possible to build up a brief biography of Bernard Johnson and record for posterity someone who served his country for a third of his life.
Letter confirming the award of Bernard's Burma Star, Defence & War Medals and the ineligibility for the 1939-45 Star.
Medal Details:
- Burma Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Medal: 917661 GNR. B.JOHNSON. R.A.
- Royal Observer Corps Long Service Medal: CHIEF OBSERVER B R JOHNSON
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This page last updated 23 Dec 15