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.

Johnson was a watchkeeper in the light cruiser Chatham until March 1916, and participated in action against the German light cruiser Königsberg in the Rufiji Delta.

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.

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

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 Robert E. M. Harris	Captain of H.M. T.B. 4 31 Jul, 1916 – before Jul, 1917	Succeeded by Donal S. McGrath
Preceded by George H. Creswell	Captain of H.M.S. Lochinvar 20 Jun, 1917 – Dec, 1917[Inference]	Succeeded by Basil E. Reinold
Preceded by Sebald W. B. Green	Captain of H.M.S. Glowworm Dec, 1919	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 John F. Robins as Captain of H.M.S. Encounter	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 Arthur R. Farquhar	Captain of H.M.S. Dahlia 23 Jan, 1932	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Patrick E. Fell	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 ?
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 Arthur R. Halfhide
Preceded by Charles E. S. Farrant	Captain of H.M.S. Calcutta 1 Jul, 1938 – 21 Oct, 1938	Succeeded by Herbert A. Packer
Preceded by John D. A. Musters	Captain of H.M.S. Caledon 21 Oct, 1938 – 18 Jun, 1939	Succeeded by George H. Faulkner