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Lance Corporal Edward Johnson

 

The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, other than that he was from East Belfast.

Johnson enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 21 and 25 January 1915 (No.1417 – later Corps of Hussars No.71380).

In the first half of 1915 he embarked for England with F Squadron, where they awaited orders for France. On 12 July, however, Johnson was one of about two dozen men of the squadron who volunteered for service as Military Mounted Police with the 54th (East Anglian) Division, which was under orders to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. They sailed from Devonport on HMT Manitou on 29 July 1915, joining the landing at Suvla Bay between 10 and 16 August.

At the end of the year the campaign at Gallipoli was abandoned, the men of the North Irish Horse leaving in December. They arrived in Egypt the following month, where a number of them, including Johnson, remained for the duration of the war.

Johnson remained with the Military Mounted Police. He formally transferred to that regiment in June 1918 (No. P/14893) – with effect from 30 August 1917.