WELL-KNOWN BARROW GUARDSMAN

KILLED BY ENEMY ACTION

The death has taken place, due to enemy action, in London, of Guardsman Ralph Johnson, a well- known and popular Barrow man.

Guardsman Johnson, aged 20 years, was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Johnson, of 134, Blake-street, and was killed on Sunday.

He joined the Grenadier Guards on 13 January this year, and had done public duties at Buckingham Palace. He had not done any overseas service.

Guardsman Johnson was born in Barrow, and attended St. James’s and Holker-street Schools. He played football for Barrow schoolboys, and was captain of the team. He also played full-back for the Barrow J. O. C. team.

Previous to joining the Guards he was employed at Barrow as a bricklayer.

He was a member of the Salthouse Lodge of Oddfellows, of which his father is secretary. For many years he sang in the choir at St. James’s Church, Barrow.

The funeral of Guardsman Johnson will take place at Barrow.

The North West Daily Mail, Thursday 17 October 1940

Guardsman Johnson was a member of the Loyal Salthouse Lodge of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, of which his father is secretary. Brethren representing the Ulverston district and the lodges in Barrow and Dalton preceded the cortege, headed by Prov. G.M. Bro. A. Harry and Prov. C.S. Bro. J. Goodman Edwards. The District Management Committee were represented by I.P.P.G.M. Bro. V. Curry and P.P.G.M.s Bros. W.S. Forshaw and J.P. Murphy; the Salthouse Lodge by P.P.G.M.s Bros. J. Balmer and P. Casford and P.G.s Bros. H. Welsh and J. Thackeray; Barrow Lodge by P.P.G.M. Bro. A. Sandham; Henry Kitchin Lodge by P.G. Bro. J.W. Martin; Devonshire Lodge by Per. Sec. Bro. G. Hilton and P.G. Bro. J. Willmott; Lily of Barrow Lodge by P.G. Sis. M. Balmer and Furness Abbey Lodge (Dalton) by P.G. Bro. J. Long.

The funeral service of the Order was read at the graveside by Prov. G.M. Bro. Arthur Harry.

The church service was conducted by the vicar (of St James’s) the Rev. C.E. Youngman, assisted by the curate, the Rev. C. McClintock. The organist was Mr. H. Thomas.

There follows a long list of mourners, ending:

The bearers were fellow workmen and Grenadier Guardsmen.

There were many floral tributes, including those from the M.U.I.O. of Oddfellows; Traveller’s Rest Social Club; Traveller’s Rest Committee; Transit Shed Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd.; Traffic Dept. Vickers- Armstrongs Ltd.; Girls Turbine “B” Dept.; and Holker-street Old Boys.

Funeral arrangements were by W. Ormandy and Sons, Barrow.

Barrow News, 26 October 1940