John Joseph Weatherhead
Canadian Lieutenant, Carleton & York Regiment RCIC
Died December 15, 1943. Age 23.
Buried at Moro River Canadian War Cemetery.
by Laura
John J. Weatherhead – also known as “Johnny” to his friends and mother, “Bub” to his younger sister Elizabeth, or “Jack” to his family – was born June 17, 1920 to Arthur T. and Josephine H. Weatherhead. He grew up on Princess Street in Saint John, NB and attended Saint John High School, graduating in 1938. During his days as a Greyhound he played many sports incluiding tennis, for which he won a trophy in his graduating year. He was also interested in music, and particularly enjoyed Glenn Miller music according to his sister.
After graduation, John completed the work of Canadian Modern Accounting section 18 and became an employee of Irving Oil as many New Brunswickers do. In 1941, however, he decided to join the army, leaving his normal life behind.
The army led him to Edmunston, NB, where he met and married Jean May Birnie. From what I have read in his letters and journals, Jean was the love of John’s life.
John was however eventually sent overseas after only having spent two years with Jean, who he left behind along with a son. I believe he only ever saw a photo of his little boy.
His journey overseas soon brought him to Ortona with the Carleton & Yorks where he was “killed while leading his platoon… on the morning of December 15” according to a letter written to Jean formally informing her of her husband’s death in action. The letter also sadi that he had been shot while trying to get to one of his men who had been injured.
Unfortunately events of that morning prevented him from ever coming home. He never met his son John A., nor his grandchildren John T. and Samantha or his great-granddaughters Madison and Allyson. He was never able to return to his life before the war and grow up like many of us will do. For this reason we will never forget him or his fellow soldiers. His sacrifice, we must always remember.
Winston Case Johnson
Major, Carleton & York Regiment, RCIC
Died December 29, 1943.
Buried at Moro River Canadian War Cemetery.
by Eli
Winston Case Johnson was born on the 21st of May 1912, in Grand Harbour, New Brunswick. He was the second child of Dr. Brougham Freeze Johnson and Emma Louise Martin, the former of whom was a descendant of the Millstream Johnson family originating in the late 1700s. The first child of Dr. and Mrs. Johnson, and older sister to Winston, was Alta Marjorie Johnson, born the 14th day of March 1909 in Grand Manan.
At the age of five Winston and his family moved from Grand Harbour to the bustling metropolis of Saint John. The first few months were spent in a house at 60 Wentworth Street while Dr. Johnson worked in the military hospital several blocks from there. After about a year the family moved to the apartment above the office of Dr. Johnson at 287 King Street where they resided for the next twelve years while the children attended school.
In 1928 Winston followed his sister, who had graduated two years his senior in graduating from Saint John High School at its Union Street location. Alta went on to marry a man by the name of Miller, and had two sons. Winston, however, went on to study at the University of British Columbia and Dalhousie University, where he participated in many sports and was titled the Maritime universities’ featherweight boxing champion.
He graduated from Dalhousein with his Bachelor of Law in 1937. After graduation and his ensuing admittance to the Bar Association fo New Brunswick, he returned home to start business with a law firm (or possibly independently) at 65 Prince William Street. He moved into the apartment building inhabited by his parents since 1933 and lived there for the rest of his civilian life. He was well liked and active in social circles around the city, and had many friends all over the Maritime Provinces. He served as a prominent lawyer in the city from 1937 to 1939, at which time he became a professional soldier.
Winston fell under a strong military influence from an early age. As has been mentioned, his father was employed at the military hospital located on St. James Street in Saint John’s South End. Later on, Dr Johnson is listed in the 1918 Saint John City Directory as working for the “military department”. In any case, whether influenced or not to join the military, Winston was a 2nd Lt. for the Saint John Fusiliers, a regiment of the reserve army, while practicing as a barrister before the Second World War.
When Winston became a full-time soldier at the outbreak of war in 1939, he was among the minority: he was not just out of high school without any training whatsoever; he was an established figure in Saint John (though not so well-known that he would be greatly missed in civilian life in his firm).
Two major events occurred in 1940 that were to change Lt. Johnson’s life. He married Dorothy Eileen Steele on the 2nd of March; and he transferred to the Carleton and York Regiment which guaranteed his combat participation at some point during the war.
Lt. Johnson was first stationed at Aldershot, Nova Scotia, and in August of 1941 he became a Captain of the Canadian Army. This was the rank he held until shortly before his death. He worked in England for a short time as intelligence officer before re-transferring to the Carleton and York Regiment. He was then promoted to Major and placed as second-in-command of the Regiment.
On the 20th of December 1943, two Canadian infantry brigades forced their way into the general vicinity of Ortona. Eventually, on the second day of righting, the first attempts at the city itself were made. One of the brigades, possibly including the Carleton and Yorks, moved around to cut off the German supply lines. The battle continued at a rate almost unprecedented in the history of human combat. The particularly bloody and strenuous battle lasted for eight days after the initial attack.
On December 28th, 1943, the Canadians declared victory at Ortona. For Major Johnson, however, this victory had a heavy price. The battle did end on the 28th but records show that Maj. Johnson died on the 29th – it is logical to assume that he died of mortal injuries received during the capture of the city.
SJHS Remembers 