Johnson, DS
(1895 - 1916)
Key Facts
DATE OF BIRTH:
3rd December 1895
YEARS ATTENDED THE COLLEGE:
1909 - 1910
HOME ADDRESS WHEN AT THE COLLEGE:
Erin House, Atkins Road, Clapham Park
REGIMENT
Royal Flying Corps
FINAL RANK:
2nd Lieutenant
DATE OF DEATH:
4th December 1916
AGE AT DEATH:
21
WHERE HE DIED (or was wounded)
Somme
LOCATION OF GRAVE OR MEMORIAL:
Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez. XVI D 1
2nd Lieutenant Derrick Sivewright Johnson
Photo courtesy of Brighton College.
Born in South Africa on 3rd December 1895, he was the third, and youngest, son of Major Frank Johnson and his wife, Jane. He was at Dulwich Prep between 1903 and 1908 before in January of 1909 starting at the College, as both of his elder brothers – Cyril Frederick and Frank Bernard – had done before him. He was at the College for only a short time, however, before leaving in the summer of 1910 for Brighton College.
On the outbreak of war he signed up for an officer training programme, and was at first assigned to a Cyclists Battalion of the Sussex Regiment, before in 1916 transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. After a short period in hospital as a result of an accident, Derrick was assigned to 25th Squadron, a bomber unit. On December 4th 1916, whilst returning from a raid at Pont-à-Vendin on the Somme, Derrick’s plane was shot down, crashing in flames behind enemy lines. Today he is commemorated at Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery.
