6/3364 Company Sergeant Major Frank William Johnsen, (28/3/1889-7/5/1941). "acts of gallantry"

SERGEANT F. W. JOHHSEN

There will be widespread regret at the passing of Sergeant Frank William Johnson, a member of the Dunedin Police Force, which occurred last evening after he had taken ill when on duty the previous day. Sergeant Johnsen was born at Shag Point on March 28, 1889, and entered the police force on March 1, 1920, at Wellington, serying there as a constable until 1924, when he was transferred to Onehunga. While at Wellington he was attached for a time to the detective branch. From Onehunga he went to Whakatane in 1931, and two years later was transferred to Mangaweka as sole constable. He remained there until 1935, when he came to Dunedin on promotion to the rank of sergeant. Sergeant Johnsen was well known and respected, and he was always keenly interested in sport. While in the north he was actively engaged in coursing, and he was also interested in Rugby, but on coming to Dunedin he devoted more of his attention to Rugby, being closely associated with the activities of the police team. He was a prominent member of the Police Social Club and was a member of the Police Association from its inception in 1938, being chairman of the local branch for a term. He left New Zealand with the 8th Reinforcements in the last war, and served for nearly four years with the Canterbury Infantry, gaining the Military Medal for gallantry in the field. He returned from service as a company sergeant-major. He is survived by his wife, two daughters — Mrs A. Kennedy and Miss Betty Johnsen — and one son, Mr Norman Johnsen.   -Evening Star, 8/5/1941.

Unfortunately, Frank Johnsen's Army record has no more detail regarding his Military Medal than that it was awarded "for acts of gallantry in the field."

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.