Jim Johnson (British Army officer)
{{About|British Army officer|people named Jim Johnson|Jim Johnson (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Henry James Johnson
|birth_date= {{birth date|1924|12|21|df=y}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|2008|7|20|1924|12|21|df=y}}
|birth_place=
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|nickname=Jim
|allegiance= {{flag|United Kingdom}}
|serviceyears=1939–1963
|rank=Colonel
|servicenumber= 300853 (Officer)
22222514 (Trooper)
|branch= Special Air Service, British Army
|battles=Second World War
|awards=Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
}}
Henry James Johnson OBE, TD (1924–2008) was a Colonel in the British Army. He commanded the 21 SAS (TA), after which he led Britain's clandestine war against Egyptian forces in Yemen during the mid-1960s. After that he set up Britain's first post-war private military company.
Early life
Johnson was born 21 December 1924 then educated at Westminster School and was there at the same time as Tony Benn.
Military career
He joined the British Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Welsh Guards on 21 November 1943.{{London Gazette|issue=36298|supp=y|page=5583|date=21 December 1943}}
Johnson relinquished his military commission on 8 June 1948 to join the Territorial Army SAS as a trooper.{{London Gazette|issue=38372|page=4382|date=3 August 1948}} He was then promoted back to lieutenant on 19 October 1948, with seniority from 21 December 1947.{{London Gazette|issue=38510|supp=y|page=200|date=11 January 1949}} He was made an acting captain on 1 June 1950,{{London Gazette|issue=39034|supp=y|page=4963|date=6 October 1950}} which was confirmed on 21 December 1951, with seniority from 1 June 1950.{{London Gazette|issue=39413|supp=y|page=6645|date=18 December 1951}} He was made an acting major on 15 March 1953,{{London Gazette|issue=39907|supp=y|page=3789|date=7 July 1953}} and reverted to the rank of captain on 15 June 1954.{{London Gazette|issue=40259|supp=y|page=4875|date=20 August 1954}} He then received a series of promotions, which eventually led to the rank of Colonel.{{London Gazette|issue=40506|supp=y|page=3379|date=7 June 1955}}{{London Gazette|issue=41931|supp=y|page=542|date=15 January 1960}}{{London Gazette|issue=42959|supp=y|page=3027|date=2 April 1963}}{{London Gazette|issue=43043|supp=y|page=5633|date=28 June 1966}} He was appointed as Aide-de-Camp to Queen Elizabeth II on 18 October 1969,{{London Gazette |issue=44966 |date=14 November 1969 |page=11042 |supp=y }} which he held until 18 October 1974.{{London Gazette |issue=46455 |date=7 January 1975 |page=206 |supp=y }}
Johnson died 20 July 2008.
Awards and decorations
Johnson was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on {{London Gazette|issue=42870|supp=y|page=6|date=28 December 1962}} for his services to the TA.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2553726/Colonel-Jim-Johnson.html Telegraph obituary] of Colonel Jim Johnson
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Jim}}
Category:British Army personnel of World War II
Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
Category:People educated at Westminster School, London
Category:Special Air Service officers