William Henry Johnston
Captain, 59th Field Company. Royal Engineers
- Register No.
- 647 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Captain all Captains →
- Unit
- 59th Field Company. Royal Engineers (register: Corps of Royal Engineers) all Corps of Royal Engineers VCs →
- Date of action
- 14 September 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 25th November, 1914 on this day → all of 1914 →
- Born
- 21st December, 1879 at Leith, Scotland
- Died
- in action on 8th June 1915 near Ypres, Belgium
- Memorial / grave
- Perth Cemetery, Zillibeke, Belgium
Digest of citation
On the 14th September, 1914 at Missy, France, Captain Johnston worked with his own hands two rafts on the River Aisne. He returned with a wounded from one side and took back ammunition. He continued to do this under heavy fire all day, thus enabling an advanced Brigade to maintain its position across the river
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
JOHNSTON, William Henry. (reg No. 647).
Captain. 59th Field Company. Royal Engineers.
London Gazetted on 25th November, 1914.
Born on 21st December, 1879 at Leith, Scotland.
Killed in action on 8th June 1915 near Ypres, Belgium.
Memorial at Perth Cemetery, Zillibeke, Belgium.
Digest of Citation reads: On the 14th September, 1914 at Missy, France, Captain Johnston worked with his own hands two rafts on the River Aisne. He returned with a wounded from one side and took back ammunition. He continued to do this under heavy fire all day, thus enabling an advanced Brigade to maintain its position across the river.
Additional information:. Brevet -Major Johnston was the son of Major William Johnston RA. He entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in 1879. His commission in the Royal Engineers was gazetted on 23rd March 1899. He saw foreign service in Gibraltar from 1900-1905 in the Intelligence Department. Promoted Lieutenant 19th November 1901. Returning to England was attached to Survey Department until 1908. He was Gazetted as a General Staff Officer 3rd Grade for service in China. Attained Captain on 23rd March 1908. From 11th July 1908 to 26th October 1911 he served in North China engaged in intelligence work, visiting 11 of the 18 provinces. He was transferred to South China Command. On his return to England he served in the Geographical Section of the War Office until 1913, when he entered the Staff College, Camberley. At the outbreak of the European War (WW I) he joined the 59th Field Company of the Royal Engineers in the British Expeditionary Force serving throughout the winter of 1914-15. He saw action including the retreat from Mons and the Battles of Aisne, the Marne, Neuve Chapelle and the first and second Battles of Ypres. He was mentioned four times in Field Marshal Sir John French's Despatches gazetted 9th October, and 25th November 1914 and the 17th February and 22nd June, 1915. More to be added.
Additional information
Brevet -Major Johnston was the son of Major William Johnston RA. He entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in 1879. His commission in the Royal Engineers was gazetted on 23rd March 1899. He saw foreign service in Gibraltar from 1900-1905 in the Intelligence Department. Promoted Lieutenant 19th November 1901. Returning to England was attached to Survey Department until 1908. He was Gazetted as a General Staff Officer 3rd Grade for service in China. Attained Captain on 23rd March 1908. From 11th July 1908 to 26th October 1911 he served in North China engaged in intelligence work, visiting 11 of the 18 provinces. He was transferred to South China Command. On his return to England he served in the Geographical Section of the War Office until 1913, when he entered the Staff College, Camberley. At the outbreak of the European War (WW I) he joined the 59th Field Company of the Royal Engineers in the British Expeditionary Force serving throughout the winter of 1914-15. He saw action including the retreat from Mons and the Battles of Aisne, the Marne, Neuve Chapelle and the first and second Battles of Ypres. He was mentioned four times in Field Marshal Sir John French's Despatches gazetted 9th October, and 25th November 1914 and the 17th February and 22nd June, 1915. More to be added.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Perth Cemetery, Zillibeke, Belgium
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