Johnson Cyril James (Jim), 58 Medium Rgt, Royal Artillery

Another uncle! (See Portfleet Leonard).

Killed 08/05/43, Tunisia. Buried Massicault War Cemetery. Number, 770453.

Apparently he was killed when another gun jammed, and as he went to help, it exploded. It may be that his brother, Johannes (Joe), was involved - Joe survived.

1. Any info sought.

2. Did our guns explode regularly? I know nothing about them!

blackdubh.

 

Rob Dickers on this Forum can probably tell you about this subject. Prematures I think they are called and fairly common.

 

Name:JOHNSON, CYRIL JAMES
Initials:C J
Nationality:United Kingdom
Rank:Bombardier
Regiment/Service:Royal Artillery
Unit Text:58 Medium Regt.
Age:30
Date of Death:08/05/1943
Service No:770453
Additional information:Son of Alfred James Johnson and Ethel Johnson, of Sudbury, Suffolk; husband of Vilma Kathleen Johnson, of Sudbury.
Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:Coll. grave IV. C. 1-4.
Cemetery:MASSICAULT WAR CEMETERY

 

Link to a site with some info on 58 Medium

RA 1939-45 58 Med Rgt

 

Thanks again ramacal! Yes, that's him. Alfred James Johnson and Ethel (Maud) Johnson (Portfleet), are my Grandad and Grandma - never knew them though.

 

Blackdubh.
As Robert has said, sounds like a premature, but as you say he went over to help it sounds like the shell had jamed in the barrel or breach and not detonated. As he was a bombardier (2nd in charge of the gun) he would be the man to try to extracate it with either the Sergeant or Bombardier of the other gun, a very dangerous exercise, as the only way is to ram back from the barrel end. Medium Arty 5.5 guns suffered very badly from prems causing lots of casualties throughout the war.
Here is an extract from the Regt History.

Prematures (Shell exploding in barrel or breach) or where the shell just dropped out of the end of the barrel with the resulting casualties. In the War Diaries of 9 AGRA it states that the regiment was exonerated from any blame for these incidents as upon later examination of the regiment’s guns it was found that they were not up to the required standard of manufacture and had unacceptable levels of swarf present in the barrels and firing mechanism. Even before the regiment embarked for France, on 10th Feb 1944 at the Alfriston Ranges a premature killed 277315 2nd Lt N.A.H. Fowles RA with two other casualties, one dying later. Even as late as the 14th Jan 1945 the regiment were visited by the Prematures Investigation Committee and on the 9th Feb 1945 a “Premature”of “E” Sub Gun of “D” Troop resulted in 2 casualties and the gun destroyed. Also on the 1st May 1945 at 7.30 in the evening, a “Premature” in No 1 Gun of “C” Troop caused 5 casualties, 3 of who were killed.the gun

 

58 (Suffolk) Med Regt
TA

Ipswich 1938
France 1940 - GHQ Troops
UK 1940-2 - Southern Comd, 1 AGRA
N Africa 1943 - 1 AGRA
Italy 1943-5 - 1 AGRA
358 Med Regt

 

Blackdubh.
As Robert has said, sounds like a premature, but as you say he went over to help it sounds like the shell had jamed in the barrel or breach and not detonated. As he was a bombardier (2nd in charge of the gun) he would be the man to try to extracate it with either the Sergeant or Bombardier of the other gun, a very dangerous exercise, as the only way is to ram back from the barrel end. Medium Arty 5.5 guns suffered very badly from prems causing lots of casualties throughout the war.
Here is an extract from the Regt History.

Prematures (Shell exploding in barrel or breach) or where the shell just dropped out of the end of the barrel with the resulting casualties. In the War Diaries of 9 AGRA it states that the regiment was exonerated from any blame for these incidents as upon later examination of the regiment’s guns it was found that they were not up to the required standard of manufacture and had unacceptable levels of swarf present in the barrels and firing mechanism. Even before the regiment embarked for France, on 10th Feb 1944 at the Alfriston Ranges a premature killed 277315 2nd Lt N.A.H. Fowles RA with two other casualties, one dying later. Even as late as the 14th Jan 1945 the regiment were visited by the Prematures Investigation Committee and on the 9th Feb 1945 a “Premature”of “E” Sub Gun of “D” Troop resulted in 2 casualties and the gun destroyed. Also on the 1st May 1945 at 7.30 in the evening, a “Premature” in No 1 Gun of “C” Troop caused 5 casualties, 3 of who were killed.the gun


headstone of 2nd Lt Norman A.H. Fowles Royal Artillery

Second Lieutenant NORMAN ALBERT HENRY FOWLES

277315, 10 Medium Regt., Royal Artillery
who died
on 10 February 1944

Remembered with honour
PINNER CEMETERY