Frederick Ross Maxwell Johnson

Captain Frederick Ross Maxwell Johnson (9 December, 1889 – 18 June, 1939) was an officer in the Royal Navy. He appears to have been a generally capable officer, but his manner was off-putting to some of his superiors.

Life & Career

Johnson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 15 June, 1911.

On 29 October 1912, Johnson was admitted to Plymouth Hospital for one month to be treated for syphilis and scabies. He was found fit a month later and appointed to the light cruiser H.M.S. Chatham. On 4 April 1913, he was cautioned for being inattentive to his duties as officer of the watch.

Johnson served as watchkeeper in Chatham until March 1916, and was mentioned in despatches after participating in action against the German light cruiser Königsberg in the Rufiji Delta.

On 15 November 1917, Lochinvar collided with S.S. Sirius. The determination of fault is illegible in his Service Record.

On 13 May 1918, he suffered a severe injury to his left hand when a gun exploded. He was found fit for shore service on 6 September, 1918.

Johnson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 15 June, 1919.^{[Fact Check]}

Johnson was appointed in command of the gunboat Ladybird on 14 June, 1920.

On 29 June, 1924 Johnson was admitted to Plymouth Hospital with serious injuries to his head caused by a motor accident. His condition was deemed "serious".

Johnson was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1924.

Loaned to the Royal Australian Navy in 1925, Johnson was placed in command of H.M.A.S. Penguin. Following this command, he replaced Commander Dolphin in the light cruiser H.M.A.S. Adelaide.

Johnson was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1931.

On 13 January 1936, the Admiralty told Johnson it considered him solely at fault for a collision between the Dragon and a pilot boat at the entrance to the Para River in October 1935. He was cautioned to be more careful in future.

Johnson commanded the minesweeper Speedwell from 25 January 1939 until being sent back to his command of Caledon on 4 March, 1939.

Johnson was found dead in a wood near Maidstone on 18 June, 1939, having shot himself and severed his spinal cord. Deemed a suicide whilst of unsound mind.

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Harold C. Woolcombe-Boyce	Captain of H.M.S. Fawn 6 Mar, 1916 – 31 Jul, 1916	Succeeded by John Willits
Preceded by Robert E. M. Harris	Captain of H.M. T.B. 4 31 Jul, 1916 – 5 Dec, 1916	Succeeded by Donal S. McGrath
Preceded by Somerville P. B. Russell	Captain of H.M.S. Ure 5 Dec, 1916 – 20 Jun, 1917	Succeeded by Reginald A. Woodward
Preceded by George H. Creswell	Captain of H.M.S. Lochinvar 20 Jun, 1917 – 26 Dec, 1917	Succeeded by Basil E. Reinold
Preceded by Cecil R. Hemans	Captain of H.M.S. Ossory 26 Dec, 1917 – 16 Feb, 1918	Succeeded by Raymond G. F. H. de Caen
Preceded by William G. A. Shuttleworth	Captain of H.M.S. Minion 23 Feb, 1918 – 12 May, 1918	Succeeded by Spencer F. Russell
Preceded by Sebald W. B. Green	Captain of H.M.S. Glowworm Dec, 1919 – c. Mar, 1920[Inference]	Succeeded by John F. Warton
Preceded by John F. Warton	Captain of H.M.S. Ladybird 14 Jun, 1920	Succeeded by Lancelot V. Donne
Preceded by Arthur G. Craufurd	Captain of H.M.A.S. Penguin mid 1925 – late 1925	Succeeded by Gerald C. Wynter
Preceded by Robert A. Startin	Captain of H.M.S. Shoreham 27 Oct, 1931 – 13 Dec, 1931	Succeeded by John Harding
Preceded by Robert A. Startin	Captain of H.M.S. Penzance 14 Dec, 1931 – Feb, 1932	Succeeded by Arthur R. Farquhar
Preceded by Percy F. P. Wood	Captain of H.M.S. Dahlia 23 Jan, 1932	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Edward B. Cloete	Captain of H.M.S. Mackay 30 Mar, 1932 – 23 Apr, 1932	Succeeded by Charles F. Harris
Preceded by James A. McCoy	Captain of H.M.S. Worcester 19 Jul, 1932 – 4 Apr, 1933	Succeeded by William G. A. Robson
Preceded by Marshal L. Clarke	Captain of H.M.S. Campbell 1 Jul, 1935 – 21 Jul, 1935	Succeeded by Arthur G. Skipwith
Preceded by Guy L. Coleridge	Captain (D), Ninth Destroyer Flotilla 1 Jul, 1935 – 21 Jul, 1935	Succeeded by Eric B. K. Stevens
Preceded by W. Frederic Wake-Walker	Captain of H.M.S. Dragon 15 Aug, 1935 – 15 Jul, 1937	Succeeded by Allan J. Wavish
Preceded by Geoffrey R. S. Watkins	Captain of H.M.S. Cardiff 9 Apr, 1938 – 1 Jul, 1938	Succeeded by Percy F. P. Wood
Preceded by John H. Young	Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, The Nore 29 Apr, 1938 – 18 Jun, 1939	Succeeded by George H. Faulkner
Preceded by Percy F. P. Wood	Captain of H.M.S. Calcutta 1 Jul, 1938 – 28 Sep, 1938	Succeeded by H. Geoffrey Norman
Preceded by Lionel V. Lloyd	Captain of H.M.S. Caledon 21 Oct, 1938 – 18 Jun, 1939	Succeeded by George H. Faulkner