Cornelius Johnson: A Jamaican in the British West Indies Regiment in the First World War

By John D Ellis

A passing reference in a newspaper to a Black soldier of the British West Indies Regiment transiting through Paisley, Scotland in August 1918, has led to the identification of the soldier and revealed details of his service.

From The War Cry, 31^st August 1918:

A few days since the military authorities send for Commandant Munns, of Paisley I, to ask him to escort Private Cornelious Johnson, a coloured soldier from the West Indies, who was that day being discharged to Hull, where he is making his home. Brother Johnson is a Salvationist, and the other night he was present at Paisley’s Open-Air and held a large group of people enthralled while he gave his testimony. The Home League members have given our comrade a Bible to take away with him as a memento of his stay in the city.^[1]The War Cry, 31^st August 1918. findmypast.co.uk The War Cry is the publication of the Salvation Army. Paisley is in Scotland

No.5541 Private Cornelius Johnson of the ‘British West Indies Regiment’ was born in Cornwall, Westmoreland, Jamaica c.1888 and was a butcher by occupation (labourer was also noted).^[2]http://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk He enlisted on the 10^th of March 1916 at Up Park Camp, Jamaica. On enlistment he was 5/5 and ½” tall and weighed 126 lbs.^[3]TNA WO 364. findmypast.co.uk His next of kin was identified as his mother, Mrs F Johnson of Lamb’s River, Westmoreland, Jamaica.

He departed the Caribbean on HMT Magdelana and served in Egypt between November 1916 and January 1917 and in France between February 1917 and July 1918 (possibly with the 5^th and 6^th Battalions respectively). He had one disciplinary incident noted in his records whilst in Egypt and France: Being absent from a parade. In August 1918, and according to the War Cry, Private Cornelius Johnson was clearly expecting to be demobbed. However, following the cessation of hostilities the British West Indies Regiment was posted to Italy.

In Italy, Private Cornelius Johnson’s disciplinary record escalated, including charges for: pretending to be unable to lift a box; indecent language; hesitating to obey an order (twice); being absent from a working party; improper conduct whilst on a working party; playing cards; gambling in camp; and conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline. The BWIR’s time in Italy was significant for the Taranto Mutiny, a four-day uprising in December 1918, caused by severe systemic racism and poor conditions, including being used as labourers (cleaning toilets and digging latrines), being denied the same wartime pay rise given to White troops, and the imposition of segregation (hospitals and recreational areas). The increase in Cornelius Johnson’s disciplinary incidents was almost certainly connected to the treatment he was receiving.

He was discharged in June 1919 on a gratuity of £10 (being denied a pension) due to the effects of frost bite whilst serving in France in April 1917 (for which he was treated at Bethune Hospital, France – No.33 Casualty Clearing Station).

In May 1919 he returned to the Caribbean on HMT Bermudian. That year he was awarded both the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.^[4]TNA WO 372/11/6155. findmypast.co.uk

Historically, the city of Hull has long been home to Black people, particularly seafarers. However, it has not been possible to identify Cornelius Johnson in the 1921 England Census, either in Hull or elsewhere.^[5]1921 Census of England & Wales. ancestry.co.uk and findmypast.co.uk

His fate remains unknown.