Johnson, John Leslie (Corporal, b.1902 - d.1941)

Collection relating to the Second World War service of VX42266 Corporal John Leslie Johnson. Collection consists of three volumes of correspondence between Corporal John Leslie Johnson and his family, including original letters, transcripts, annotations, photographs, souvenirs and newspaper clippings. The letters from Cpl John Leslie Johnson describe training in Albury, the troopship voyage, camp at Dimra in Palestine, and experiences at Tobruk (where he was killed on 17 May 1941) with the "Bush Artillery" and with a carrier platoon (2/23 Battalion). Letters from Cpl John Leslie Johnson's wife Josephine and his children show what his service meant to the community of Walwa and to the family, and they give an indication of how their daily lives were affected.

The difficulties faced by Cpl John Leslie Johnson's widow after his death are described in J Arnold, "Mother Superior Woman Inferior" (Melbourne, 1985). Also see 'Love letters from a war : the letters of Corporal John Leslie Johnson and his family, June 1940 - May 1941 / Len Johnson' held in the Memorial's collection at: 940.548194 J67.