"Lou" Louis JOHANSEN
Born 1886 in Landscorna, Sweden [30: item 7362892]
Labourer in Carnamah, Western Australia in 1917 [30: item 7362892]
Successfully applied to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force in Perth on 4 July 1917 [30: item 7362892]
On enlistment he was noted as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 140 lbs. with blue eyes, fair hair and a fresh complexion [30]
It was also noted that he had a tattoo on his right and left forearms and on his left and right hands [30]
Gave his next of kin as his friend Mrs Sarah Jane RODWELL, who at the time was of Carnamah, and later of Perth [30]
Sarah RODWELL remarked in a letter about Lou "I have been a mother to him he is like my own" [30]
Embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia for active service abroad on the H.M.T. Commonwealth on 9 November 1917 [30]
Disembarked in the Suez Canal on 10 December 1917 and entered a training camp in Moascar, Egypt the same day [30]
Private 3601 in the 32nd/10th Light Horse's 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance during the First World War [30]
Saw active service in Egypt and other parts of the Middle East before contracting malaria and being returned to Australia [30]
Embarked from the Suez Canal on the Euripides and disembarked in Fremantle, Western Australia on 10 April 1919 [30]
Discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 4 August 1919; received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal [30]
Returned to the Carnamah district in about 1921 and initially worked as a farmhand for Carl OLSON [0: image 02961]
He and Bill WILLIAMS cleared by contract 320 acres of James K. FORRESTER'sDunester Farm in Carnamah [P300]
During the clearing he lived at a camp on Dunester Farm and a fire came along when they had only three acres left to clear [P300]
The fire and a subsequent willy willy set the felled trees and scrub ablaze, and it burnt clean away included his camp [P300]
He and Bill WILLIAMS also worked for J. K. FORRESTER in assisting him make a well on Dunester Farm [P300]
In 1923 obtained the 750 acre Lot 15 of the Inering Estate in Carnamah through the Soldier Settlement Scheme [7: page 66] [8: page 20]
Farmer on the Inering Estate in Carnamah 1923-1926 [19] [9: 19-Feb-1926]
Signed the petition in February 1923 for the Irwin Licensing Court to grant a hotel license for Carnamah [10: 9-Mar-1923]
His wheat crops were expected to average 24 or more bushels per acre in 1924 [9: 17-Oct-1924]
Had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son in 1925 [53]
On 27 November 1925 purchased 1,161 acres of virgin land in Carnamah from the Midland Railway Company [27]
The 1,161 acres was Lot M1475 of Victoria Location 1935 and cost £784, payable by instalments over 15 years [27]
Lot M1475 is situated on the south side of the Caron Road about six miles north east of the Carnamah townsite [5: 5-Apr-1935] [62]
Held a clearing sale on his Inering Estate farm in Carnamah on 26 February 1926 and soon after left for Europe [9: 19-Feb-1926]
Leased and later sold his 750 acre Lot 15 of the Inering Estate to Andrew S. CUMMING [3] [120: 9-Jan-1930]
Departed Fremantle on the Esperance Bay and arrived in Southampton, England on 23 April 1926 en route to Sweden [204]
Departed London, England on the steamship Largs Bay and arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia on 23 September 1926 [63]
Returned to Carnamah in 1927 and began farming his 1,161 acre Lot M1475 [6] [9: 21-Oct-1927]
In 1927 transformed 300 acres of virgin bush on his farm into crop producing acreage [9: 21-Oct-1927]
Ploughed the 300 acres at a cost of 6/- per acre, super and seeded it for about 11/6 per acre (with 90 pounds of super per acre) [9]
Had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son in 1928, 1929 and 1930 [53]
Purchased a new Ford 30 Cwt truck from local dealer Rupert LAFFAN in August 1929 [4: 17-Aug-1929]
Best man at the wedding of "Jack" I. John THOMPSON and Dorothy E. CLARK in Three Springs on 31 July 1928 [9: 10-Aug-1928]
Made a donation to the Carnamah branch of the Country Women's Association in 1932 to help them purchase premises [5: 29-Jul-1932]
Had a finger amputated at the Carnamah Private Hospital at 14 Robertson Street, Carnamah in August 1932 [5: 2-Sep-1932]
He was one of 77 ex-servicemen who attended the Sailors & Soldiers Reunion Dinner in Carnamah on 22 October 1932 [86: 29-Oct-1932]
The local newspaper revealed on 1 September 1933 that there were goods for him at the Carnamah railway station [5: 1-Sep-1933]
Awarded 2nd prize for Sheaf of Green Wheat for Hay at the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 14 September 1933 [5: 22-Sep-1933]
He was among those from Carnamah who attended the R.S.L. Reunion Dinner held in Morawa on 28 October 1933 [5: 3-Nov-1933]
Hosted at his farm homestead a surprise 70th birthday party for Carl OLSON on Thursday 17 January 1935 [5: 25-Jan-1935]
Took shelter from a thunder and rain next to his chaff shed on the afternoon of Monday 1 April 1935 [5: 5-Apr-1935]
Lightning struck two of his horses who were standing nearby, and the force also threw him heavily to the ground [5]
The first horse, a valuable draught mare, was killed instantly while the second, a two year old gelding was temporarily paralysed[5]
Member of the Carnamah Sub-Branch of the Returned Soldiers League in 1935 and 1937 [5: 19-Apr-1935, 22-Jan-1937]
Won 1st prize for Oaten Chaff in the Grain & Fodder section of the Carnamah Agricultural Show on 12 September 1935 [5: 20-Sep-1935]
Attended the R.S.L. Annual General Meeting and Smoke Social at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 6 April 1935 [5: 12 & 19-Apr-1935]
Attended the Fourth Annual North Midlands R.S.L. Reunion Dinner held in Three Springs on Saturday 19 October 1935 [5: 25-Oct-1935]
Attended the Wedding Social & Dance for Stuart and May FORD at Koolabba Farm in Carnamah on 25 January 1936 [5: 31-Jan-1936]
Attended the R.S.L. Social to farewell "Chitter" George F. BROWN at the Carnamah Hostel on Friday evening 24 April 1936 [5]
During the evening he rendered a touching monologue entitled "A Letter From Home" [5: 1-May-1936]
Won a "Bachelor's Supper" in a raffle at the Carnamah Football Club's Dance at the Carnamah Hall on 27 June 1936 [5: 3-Jul-1936]
Attended the Fifth Annual North Midlands R.S.L. Reunion Dinner in Dongara on Saturday evening 24 October 1936 [5: 30-Oct-1936]
Advertised in late 1936 that he had five young horses for sale which were broken, workers and in excellent condition [5: 24-Dec-1936]
In June 1937 purchased a new Chevrolet special coupe utility through Carnamah mechanic D. Standish O'GRADY [5: 11-Jun-1937]
On 1 November 1937 delivered the first load of wheat in Carnamah for the 1937-38 season [0: image 03704]
The load consisted 150 bags of Merredin wheat from a crop that was averaging 21 bushels to the acre [0: image 03704]
Purchased a McCormick Deering W30 pneumatic tyred tractor from local agent W. George MULLIGAN in late 1937 [5: 26-Nov-1937]
Left the Carnamah district in February 1941 [0: image 02961]
Returned to Carnamah later in 1941 and worked as a farmhand for Charlie OLSON for a couple of months [0: image 04057]
Left Carnamah on 17 December 1941 [0: image 04057]
Returned to Carnamah again in October 1946 [0: image 04416]
Retained ownership of his 1,161 acre Lot M1475 in Carnamah until selling it to Roy A. LUCAS during the 1948-49 financial year [3]
Said to have returned to Sweden [P34], however was living in Perth, Western Australia when he died in 1954 [2]
Died 28 November 1954; buried Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA (Anglican, ZM, 80)[2]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Louis Johansen' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 20 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/louis-johansen [reference list] |
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