There is a James Johnson born in Widdrington in c.1882. if you follow him forward through the censuses he appears in the 1901 at Elswick as James 'H'; that census is the transcribed list type so possibly an error for 'B'. Carry on and we have him at Hugh Gardens, Benwell as a porter (infirmary) on the 1911 census, still with parents correct as at the 1891 census at Widdrington. Bingo.
He was born c.1882 not 1889. Could have underestimated his age for some reason, or just as likely a transcription/interpretation error by whoever saw his enlistment papers to produce the 1889 date.
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