248867 Lt. Johnson Affleck MC.British Army 7th Btn. Royal Northumberland Fusiliers from:Canada My father, Johnson Affleck was born in Gateshead in 1886, he was at St Bees from 1900-1903 and, after a period learning pioneering skills went out to Canada in 1906 where he was when WWI was declared.
He joined up in British Columbia but was told his eyesight would probably preclude active service. He resigned, travelled under his own steam to Europe where he enlisted in the King Edward’s Horse as a cavalryman.
In 1916 he was selected for officer training and at the end of 1916 was commissioned into the 7th Btn Northumberland Fusiliers with whom he saw service around Ypres and Passchendaele, service for which he was awarded the Military Cross.
After the war he stayed in the Army escorting German POWs on their marches back to Germany. He was discharged late in 1919 and made his way back to Canada in 1920.
|