Watch List notes:

A Great War 'First Day of the Somme' Victory Medal and Memorial Plaque awarded to Private Jack Johnson, 2nd Royal Berkshire, late Army Cyclist Corps, late Accrington 'Pals', killed in action on 1 July 1916 during the attack on Ovilliers, where by 9.00am over half the Battalion was lost, comprising: Victory Medal (9921 Pte. J. Johnson. A. Cyc. Corps.); Memorial Plaque (Jack Johnson); About extremely fine (2). Private Jack Johnson was born c. 1897, the son of Mr and Mrs Johnson of 78 Arden Terrace, Accrington, formerly of Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire. Having initially joined the 'Accrington Pals', he was transferred to the Army Cyclist Corps and then onto the Royal Berkshire Regiment. It was with this latter regiment that he took part in the Somme offensive launched on 1 July 1916 – the 'First Day of the Somme'. Going 'over the top' in an attack upon Ovilliers, Private Jack Johnson was reported missing on the same day, and later confirmed as killed in action. The 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment 'met tremendous machine gun and rifle fire' and by 9.00am it is recorded that over half of the Battalion (437 men) had been lost. Local newspapers published his portrait, and recorded that six members of his family were serving with the colours at that time. He is buried at the Ovilliers Military Cemetery, Somme, France.