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Keith Ormonde Edley Johnson

(Confirmed)

Born: 28 December, 1894

Died: 19 October, 1972

Biographical Summary:

Served in Artillery units firstly as a Gunner before being promoted to Bombadier and Corporal.

After the war he became the Honorary Secretary of the Mosman Cricket Club and while continuing in that position went on to have a successful and, at the end, controversial role in cricket administration at the state, national and international levels.

He joined the RAAF in World War 2 and was posted to London.  At the end of that war he was appointed to manage the Australian Services team which played the Victory "Tests" against England and then went on to play in India and Australia. 

Based on his success in that role, he was appointed manager of the 1948 Australian team (The Invincibles) on its undefeated tour of England.

He withdrew in 1954 from all, but Mosman, cricket administration following a controversial libel case brought in 1952 by the cricketer Sid Barnes about his exclusion from the national team for "reasons outside of cricket".  Johnson appeared as a witness for the defence.  However, his credibility was severely damaged during cross examination.  He stepped down citing business commitments. 

In 1964, he was awarded an MBE for "service to cricket".

Service Number: 32002

Ranks:

• Held rank of Gunner
• Held rank of Bombadier
• Held rank of Corporal

Birth Records:

• 28 December, 1894 in Paddington, NSW, Australia

Death Records:

• 19 October, 1972 in Sydney

Address:

• 68 Awaba Street Mosman NSW Australia

Relationships:

• father - George Hastie Johnson
• mother - Margaretha Marie Hanson

Organisations:

• Member of - 12th Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery
• Member of - 4th Divisional Ammunition Column, AIF
• Member of - 11th Field Artillery Brigade

Main Sources:

• Gunner Keith O E Johnson (Photograph)
• Johnson Keith Ormonde Edley SERN 32002 NAA Records (Website)
• Digitised copies of war service for KOEJ (Webpage)
• AWM Embarkation records for KEOJ (Website)
• Keith Johnson cricket administrator (Webpage)
• JOHNSON Keith Ormond Edley The Order of the British Empire Member Civil (Website)
• Queen’s Birthday Honours 1964 (Newspaper Article)
• SYDNEY MAN TO MANAGE SERVICES CRICKET FltLt K Johnson (Newspaper Article)
• Johnson To Manage Touring Cricket Side (Newspaper Article)
• BOARD Ibw b BARNES KO Johnson Must Get K O (Newspaper Article)
• K Johnson Leaves Cricket Association (Newspaper Article)

Commemorations:

• JOHNSON K. O. E. on the East Face of the
• Johnson on the Mosman Public School Roll of Honour
• K.O.E. on the Mosman Football Club Rugby Union Roll of Honour