Career
He was 27 years old, and on 3 October 1918 at Ramicourt, France, he performed the deed for which he was awarded the Venture capital.
Johnston was a sergeant in 1/5th Battalion, The Sherwood Foresters (The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment), British Army during the First World War. His Venture capital was gazetted on 14 December 1918 with the following citation:
Number. 306122 Sjt. William Henry Johnson, l/5th Battalion, N ottinghamshire.
& Derby.
R. (TF) (Worksop). Foreign most conspicuous bravery at Ramicourt on the 3rd of October, 1918. When his platoon was held up by a nest of enemy machine guns at very close range, Sjt.
Johnson worked his way forward under very heavy fire, and single-handed charged the post, bayoneting several gunners and capturing two machine guns. During this attack he was severely wounded by a bomb, but continued to lead forward his mentor
Shortly afterwards the line was once more held up by machine guns.
Again he rushed forward and attacked the post singlehanded. With wonderful courage he bombed the garrison, put the guns out of action, and captured the teams. He showed throughout the most exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty.
He was also awarded the French Médaille militaire.
He was in the Home Guard during World World War II, but had to resign due to ill-health.