Ernest Johnson enlisted in the US Army in October 1940. He was sent overseas and was stationed in London as a member of the Arcadia 32nd Military Police (MP) company, National Guard, when he met WAAF Dorothy Dempster.

The pair were married on 2 May 1942. This was reported as the first WWII marriage between an American serviceman and a British woman.

Their daughter Frances was born in London on 8 April 1943. After her baptism, one of Ernest’s friends, Private Henry Resten, who was from the same MP company, sent in a photograph he had taken on the day to his parents with the following comment:

“The picture I am sending is of Ernest Johnson and their baby the day the baby was baptised. I was godfather and Joyce West, one of Mrs. Johnson’s friends was godmother. It was a beautiful service and made me feel good all over.”

The couple had three more children – Ronald, Michael and Stephen – and lived for many years in Arcadia, Wisconsin. Ernest died in 1991, Dorothy in 2001.

Frances M Johnson died 9 April 2002.

Ronald P Johnson was born 24 July 1944, in Fulham, London and died 20 November 1965 in Vietnam.

Michael Johnson was born 3 April 1946 in Arcadia, Wisconsin and died 10 May 1972.

Their youngest, Steven Johnson was born 2 March 1951 in Arcadia, Wisconsin.