Police Constable 511, Toronto Police Force | Sergeant, 14th Battery, 4th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery
David Hammond Johnson was born at Barry Dock, Wales on 9 June 1891. Johnson immigrated to Toronto and found work on the Toronto Police Force in May 1913. He served as Police Constable No. 511 of No. 5 Police Station (in the area north of Bay St and Bloor St W).
Johnson was also a gifted athlete, and was well known in the Toronto Police Amateur Athletic Association (TPAAA), who competed in Club Swinging and Boxing. He was single and lived at 571 Euclid Avenue.
On December 5th 1914, Constable Johnson enlisted in Toronto’s 14th Battery of Canadian Field Artillery, and in May 1915 sailed to England on the SS Missanabie for further training. Johnson landed in France in September 1915 and entered front line service on the guns.
On Sunday, November 19th 1916, during the Battle of the Ancre, he was struck by shrapnel in the chest and abdomen. Johnson was evacuated to a casualty clearing station, where he died of his wounds.
Constable David Hammond Johnson lies buried at the Contay British Cemetery in France.
Research Sources:
- H. Grasett – Annual Report of the Chief Constable of the City of Toronto for the Year 1914, Page 60. Toronto: The Carswell Co Ltd City Printers, 1915.
- Library and Archives Canada. Service File of No. 83763 David Hammond Johnson.
- Library and Archives Canada. Circumstances of Death Registers Card – No. 83763 David Hammond Johnson.
- Library and Archives Canada. War Diaries of the First World War – 4th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, 1914/11/06 – 1918/03/31.
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Casualty Details for No. 83763 David Hammond Johnson.
- The Toronto Daily Star (1915, February 15th). “Gold Watches To Soldiers”.
- The Toronto Daily Star (1916, December 7th). “Sergt. D.A. Johnson Killed”.
- The Globe [Toronto] (1916, December 8th), Page 9. “Toronto’s Honor Roll”.
- Toronto Police Military Veterans Association – MVA22 Tour of Remembrance Photos (Photo).
The Khaki and Blue Project 