Robert Sheldon Johnson has kindly shared some photos and recalls some memories of his father’s experiences. His father is one of the originals, Sapper 183 Frederick Sheldon Johnson.
The following is a brief account of the fond memories Robert has of his father.
“My dad suffered for many years after his injuries from the western front and went back into the building industry for the rest of his entire life. My dad wrote a diary from the day he left Sydney until his return to Sydney and it tells many a story from leaving his horse behind in Egypt to go to Gallipoli to an English hospital after being hit on the Western Front.
Dad did not marry until his 40’s and had his family late in life, I was born in 1949 so he was 54 when I was born. Thus why I am still around.
Dad was a strong advocate of the RSL and always had a story of his mates all those years ago. So I have some photos that I have had since his death in 1973 that I would like to share. They are two photographs of dad one in uniform and one without. Another is a group photo sent from his mates while in hospital. The others are of Sappers at Mena camp Alexandria. One is the cook house and Dad is 4th from the left. He told me once they cooked their food underground.
Also included is dad on his horse in Mena Camp, and also another photo of Dad leading the parade on his horse behind I think he said a officer named Birdwood. ????? in Sydney before he left in 1914. The last photograph is of Turkish prisoners, where, I do not know, only that dad said he rode his horse beside them on guard. You can see him in the background.
I look back over the years and recall all the stories my dad told me as a little bloke and through the years and it was always about his mates he was with through those years and after.” – Robert Sheldon Johnson
Note: All images are from the private collection of Robert Sheldon Johnson.
1st Field Company Engineers - Australian Imperial Forces 