b'JTs father, Andrew Johanson, was a Swedish immigrant who jumped ship at Port Pirie on the Spencer Gulf in South Australia in the late nineteenth century. At twenty-three, he married Edith Ann Buzacott. JT was born on10 June 1893in Port Pirie, the first ofeleven children. When JT enlisted to fight in the First World Warhe became a stretcher bearer onthe Western Front in France, part ofthe 9 thLight Horse Regiment ofthe Australian Army his name changed from Johanson (meaning son ofJohan) to the more anglicised Johnson. Whether this was by choice ora clerical error we dont know, but fromthen on he was JT Johnson.JT had met Christine Lydia Rohde before the war. Upon his return, he joined the railways and was stationed at Murray Bridge. The pair Above John Theodore Johnson on his marriageto Christine, 1920. were married on 30 July 1920 and their first son, John Maxwell (Max), came along on 15 June 1922. Soon after, the youngfamily moved to Stockport.12 JOHNSONS100 YEARS IN THE MAKING'