John Graham Johnson

I am interested in knowing more about John Graham Johnson, Vaughan’s younger brother, known as ‘Gray’. He was born in 1882, and attended University College, London. He joined the 3rd Middlesex Royal Garrison Artillery. He married Hilda Constance Old (known as ‘Fluffy’) in 1911.

At some point the couple left for Canada. They lived in Calgary, and Graham worked as an architect and surveyor in the Canadian Pacific Railway department of natural resources. He was also an amateur musician and played in the Cathedral Orchestra.

He enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during WW1 and was sent for active service in Europe, sailing on Sept 25th 1916. In Dec 1916 he was wounded at Camiers (not far from Le Touquet) in the left buttock, apparently as a result of a bomb which was detonated by accident. He was treated in London, and was then sent back to Alberta and discharged from active duty.

We have a letter from Gray written in 1944 from Victoria BC. He has been working in the shipyards, but says he has just landed a job connected with a new dpeartment store to be built as soon as a permit is issued. There are records in Victoria BC of plans drawn up by Gray.