Albert Lawrence Johnson served in the 2/13 Battalion 9th Division AIF reaching the rank of Corporal, a highly regarded former Rat of Tobruk.

He died yesterday, just three days before Anzac Day.

Born in Marrickville, Mr Johnson had a tough upbringing. His mother died when he was three days old and he was only five when his father died, he adopted his foster family name of Johnson.

Mr Johnson enlisted about 1940 in the 2/13th infantry 7th Division AIF to be deployed overseas when he became part of the reformed 9th Division.

Mr Johnson fought in some of the greatest battles including El Alamein where he was to relate having “smelt death, understanding what the worst of war was really about.”

Later Mr Johnson fought in the siege of Tobruk, yet another of the tough campaigns during his years in the Middle East.

Having returned home, Mr Johnson was re-trained to defend Australia against the Japanese invasion, seeing active service engaging the enemy in the jungles of New Guinea where his division earned the name “Devil’s Own”.

Mr Johnson was a proud returned serviceman always attending the Anzac Day service as well as other commemorative services.

He served Bathurst RSL Sub Branch as a vice-president, treasurer and committeeman from 1976 to 1996 and was also the president of the Bathurst RSL Club from 1982-82.

He had life membership in the RSL of Australia bestowed on him in 1994.

Mr Johnson married his first wife Eileen Lepsky at Newtown in January 1939. She died in 1983.

He later married his second wife Marie Higham in the mid 1980s and also predeceased Mr Johnson.

While he remained active, Mr Johnson resided at the Cheriton Village.

He became reliant on a wheelchair and moved to live at the Bathurst Nursing Home.

He was admitted to the Bathurst Base Hospital and died there in the early hours of yesterday morning. Mr Johnson was father and father-in-law of Anne and Robert, stepfather of Graham, Patricia and Keith.

His funeral will take place in Bathurst next Tuesday with a service at The Church of the Assumption from 11 am to be followed by private cremation.

Godfrey Smith Funerals are in charge of arrangements.