Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander P Johnson

Alexander Percival Johnson was the son of Colonel Henry Alexander and Constance Bertha Johnson; husband of Jeanne Helene Johnson (Irvine). Of Camberley, Surrey. He was commissioned into the Suffolk Regiment, and volunteered for airborne forces.

Major Johnson successfully completed parachute training at RAF Ringway on course number 41, from 3 to 17 December 1942 with 7th Parachute Bn., (Somerset Light Infantry) and took part in Operation Overlord (Normandy).

Lt Col Johnson was killed in action on 12 June 1944, aged 32, whilst commanding the 12th (10th Bn. The Green Howards [Yorkshire Regt.]) Parachute Bn,  and was given a field burial at Amfreville. He was re-interred to Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, on 20 June 1945. The war diary for the 12th June states:

"12th June 1944

Place: Le Bas de Ranville

2200 - Rested until 2030 hrs when marched to LE PLEIN to form up for attack on BREVILLE. 2215 attack went in and Bn occupied BREVILLE. Casualties killed Lt. Col. A.P. Johnson, Major H.D. Rogers, Lieut B.M. Brewer + 28 O.Rs. WOUNDED Major C.W. Stephens, Capt P.C. Bernhard, Capt W.G. Medd, Capt J.N. Sim, Lt Campbell + about 100 O.Rs."

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