My 'Johnson' Cousins

Although we now know that my grandfather Harry ‘Johnson’ had changed his name from Harry Shorrocks, he created a family that earnestly believed that they were Johnsons. This provides some background on the Johnson family that he and his wife Constance created.

My grandmother Constance Johnson appears to have had a pretty rough married life at times. During one of the Post-War crashes around 1923, possibly associated with the collapse of the bond market linked to German reparation payments, Harry lost all his money and his job, and the family was evicted from their house in Clapham. My father and one of his brothers were placed in care until the family could be rebuilt. Although I have a very remote relationship to this experience, it has always stayed with me as a caution on the need to live carefully from a financial point of view to avoid 'have to put all one's possessions on an handcart and move to a poor part of town'.

It is to the considerable credit of the family that they weathered this storm and were reunited, with Harry presumably successfully surviving the Stock Market Crash of 1929 when thousands of Stock Exchange employees lost their jobs overnight. Constance died on the 27th March 1941 of carcinoma of the ovary. Her address at that time was given on the Death Certificate as 59A Belmont Park, Lewisham, (though she appears to have been living for the last period of her life at 10 Bailey Road, Westcott, Dorking).

We do know though that Constance was the mainstay of the family at times and that the family was able to live in the upper floor of the department store where she worked as a retail section manager in Clapham Junction. We also know that my father Jay idolized her and that when my mother purchased a cardigan for Constance’s birthday from the open market in Alfreton, where they were then living, he reacted angrily that ‘presents bought from the market are not good enough for my mother.

Another family story that has come down to us is that the introduction of radio sports reports had much the same impact on Harry as the broadcasting of international cricket on TV had on his daughter in law Meg in the 1950s. The story goes that Harry was so preoccupied with his radio that his sons named it his best friend and dressed it up with a cap and pipe.

It appears that Harry retired aged 60 and that they put in place a plan to move from London to the charming little village of Westcott near Dorking (the birthplace of Thomas Malthus the 19th century economist / demographer). After Constance died Harry continued to live at Westcott in a cottage near the 'Cricketers' pub (1 Sunnyville). He remarried for the last brief period of his life, to a lady named Florrie [Florence Green]. He died on 19th June 1945 and is buried in Westcott Parish Churchyard next to Constance.

My father Cyril Johnson was born on 24th December 1909 (Xmas Eve) in London at 61 Brayard Road, Peckham, Camberwell. He was the middle of three sons (no other children), with an elder brother Robert (Bob) – born 29th May 1908, and a younger brother Eric. Bob eventually had a sole daughter Janice and Eric had twin girls Judy and Gillian. [Judith lived in Canada for many years and her son Brett Hadley is still there. Gillian had two daughters Fiona and Kirsteen Coupar – Kirsteen undertook post-grad studies at the University of Waikato in 2002 but returned to the UK].

Eric, who was born on 8th February 1912, saw extensive service with the Royal Ulster Rifles during WW2 in Algeria, Tunisia, Malta, Sicily and Italy and rose to the rank of Captain. He was a long-distance walker and won the London-Brighton Stock Exchange Walk 3 times – 1939, 1947 and 1948. I called to see Eric and his wife ‘Phyl’ two or three times when I lived in South East England in the period 1974 – 1979. He was a charming man who was by then devoted to the simple things of life such as walking his dog and feeding the many birds that regularly attended his garden bird table. The letter that Eric sent to Bob when my father Jay was killed is given below:


Eric Johnson sent this letter to his elder brother Robert (Bob) Johnson in 1943 following the death of my father Cyril Johnson


R. L .[Robert Lubbock] Johnson Esq.
42 Gainsborough Road
New Malden
Surrey

Captain E.H. Johnson 187552
384 Bty 117 Lt. O.O. Regt,
C.M.F.
[ probably from North Africa ]

29-10-43


Dear Bob

Many thanks for your letter which I have just received. Yes, I had already heard the sad news about Cyril. I received a letter from Phyl yesterday, also a cable from an unknown person informing me of what had happened. You can just imagine what my feelings are like today. I don't think that I have ever spent such a miserable day.

The news absolutely dazed me and even now I can hardly believe it. I feel like crying every time I think of it and I am afraid that my grief will take a long time to pass away. Out loss is terrific, and like you, I didn't realize until yesterday, how strong the bonds of brotherhood are. Cyril had only written to me a few days before he met his end. As usual, his letter was full of good heartedness and was a great encouragement to me. Never did he mention what he might have to face, instead all his concern was for me and for my welfare. I shall miss those chatty letters of his.

I could not have written a more fitting epitaph to him than the one you wrote in your letter - he certainly was a fine man, gentleman, airman, teacher and scholar. I shall always remember him as such. As you say, not only us but England as well has lost a chap who it could least have spared.

I am pleased that the funeral ceremony was a fitting one to such a grand chap. My heart aches for Meg and Sue. How tragic it must have been for Meg to get Cyril home again (from South Africa) only to lose him so soon. As for Sue, well it just doesn't bear thinking about as she was so fond of and proud of her Daddy.

How has Dad taken the sad news? I hope that it hasn't cracked him up completely. I haven't heard from him recently, but perhaps he feels too bad about it to write. Please give him my best wishes.

Well, Bob, I feel too cut up to write much about myself. I am still keeping well and apparently satisfying the big bugs in my new position. I shan't be sorry when this wretched war is over, especially now, as I can just imagine the agony of other people when they lose their beloved ones. If you go to Nantwich again before the war is over, please place another tribute on the grave of our fine and beloved brother. It will be one of the first things that I shall do on reaching England.

I am glad you are going over to see Phyl in the near future - I know a visit from you does her a world of good. I trust that Doll, Jan and you are keeping well. Do look after yourself and them. I am looking forward to seeing you all again someday.

Very best wishes to Doll, Jan and you

Keep smiling.

Eric


Given the dispersal of the family (Bob eventually retired to Bournemouth and his daughter Janice settled in Devon; and Eric’s twins settled in London and Canada) links between us all grew thin. However, there have been recent reunions, as noted in the letter sent to me by Janice in 2002.

The letter follows a weekend reunion of the ‘Johnson Cousins’ (Sue, Janice, Judy and Gillian) 24-25th May 2002 at Hollies Croft, Lower Chester Road, Kelsall, Cheshire. Being unable to attend, Keith sent a spray of flowers to each cousin – and one to John Hollinshead on the occasion of his birthday!


Mrs Janice Dunckley
CauteDown Farm
Shebbear
Beaworthy
DEVON

6th June 2002


Dear Keith

What a delightful surprise the flowers were, thank you so much.

After many years it was lovely to spend a few days with Sue, John and the twins, talking about the old days, exchanging photographs and catching up with family news. The time went so quickly.

We visited Chester, and Beeston Castle – where we sat on Meg’s seat, such a tranquil place. On to Sue’s previous home (Bankhouse, Cholmondeley) – the weather was kind so we toured the nearby house, lake and gardens with Claire and her two children (Sue’s younger daughter Claire Mills and her children Tom and Hannah). In the evening we went to a local Country House Hotel to celebrate John’s birthday.

Dick (my husband) and I then went on to Whitby in Yorkshire to sample the famous fish and chips – he is becoming quite a connoisseur!! Do you have any decent fish and chips in New Zealand?

BRIEF FAMILY HISTORY – CHILDREN

Janine - 38 yrs

by my first marriage – divorced – works for an American company and lives in her own flat in Blandford Dorset – enjoys plenty of friends and socialising

Louise – 38 years

Dick’s daughter by his first marriage - works in insurance – lives in her own flat in Poole, Dorset with boyfriend Martin

Dawn – 29 years

and husband Kevin live near Lampeter, Wales. Dawn has her M Phil in management and works at Lampeter University. Kevin PhD is a researcher at Aberystwyth University – they have just acquired s lovely cottage with outstanding views over the Welsh countryside

Debbie – 28 years

and boyfriend Jason have their own bungalow in Holsworthy, Devon, about 8 miles from us. Debbie is a housekeeper / nanny and Jason works for the local council

Della – 24 years

is a cabaret singer and female vocalist with various bands – she is very busy at the moment with the Golden Jubilee celebrations and summer season just starting. She has been on local radio stations and national TV.

Dick and I have retired!!!!

Do hope your family are well. Maybe we will meet up someday.

Your Cousin

Janice