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| {{Distinguish|William Henry Johnson}} | {{Distinguish|William Henry Johnson}} | ||
| {{Infobox Military Person | {{Infobox Military Person | ||
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| |lived=21 December 1879 – 8 June 1915 | |lived=21 December 1879 – 8 June 1915 | ||
| |placeofbirth= ], ] | |placeofbirth= ], ] | ||
| |placeofdeath= ], |
|placeofdeath= ], Belgium | ||
| |placeofburial=Perth Cemetery, Zillibeke | |placeofburial=Perth Cemetery, Zillibeke | ||
| |image=] | |image=] | ||
| |caption= | |caption= | ||
| |nickname= | |nickname= | ||
| |allegiance={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} |
|allegiance={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} United Kingdom | ||
| |serviceyears=1899 - 1915{{KIA}} | |serviceyears=1899 - 1915{{KIA}} | ||
| |rank=Major | |rank=Major | ||
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| |laterwork= | |laterwork= | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''William Henry Johnston''' ] ( |
'''William Henry Johnston''' ] (21 December 1879 – 8 June 1915) was a Scottish recipient of the ], the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to British and ] forces. | ||
| He was 34 years old, on 14 September 1914 during the ] at ], France, in the ], he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. | |||
| ==Details== | |||
| He was 34 years old, and a ] in the 59th Field Company, ], ] during the ] in the ] when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. | |||
| ==Biography== | |||
| On ] ] at ], ], Captain Johnston worked with his own hands two rafts on the River Aisne. He returned with 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. | |||
| Born 21 December 1879 in ], ] to Maj. William Johnston and Mary Johnston.<ref name=cwgc>, Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref> Johnston was a ] in the 59th Field Company, ], ]. | |||
| ===Citation=== | |||
| ==Further information== | |||
| {{quote|At Missy, on 14th Sept., under a heavy fire all day until 7 p.m., worked with his own hand two rafts bringing back wounded and returning with ammunition; thus enabling advanced Brigade to maintain its position across the river.|], No. 28985, 25 November 1914<ref name=cwgc/>}} | |||
| ⚫ | He later achieved the rank of ]. He was killed in action, ], |
||
| ==Death== | |||
| ⚫ | He later achieved the rank of ]. He was killed in action, ], Belgium, on 8 June 1915. | ||
| ==The medal== | ==The medal== | ||
| Line 34: | Line 37: | ||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| {{Reflist}} | |||
| *] (David Harvey, 1999) | *] (David Harvey, 1999) | ||
| *] (This England, 1997) | *] (This England, 1997) | ||
Revision as of 06:15, 4 March 2009
Not to be confused with William Henry Johnson.
| William Henry Johnston | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Buried | Perth Cemetery, Zillibeke |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1899 - 1915 † |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Engineers |
| Battles / wars | World War I |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
William Henry Johnston VC (21 December 1879 – 8 June 1915) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was 34 years old, on 14 September 1914 during the Race to the Sea at Missy, France, in the First World War, he performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Biography
Born 21 December 1879 in Leith, Edinburgh to Maj. William Johnston and Mary Johnston. Johnston was a captain in the 59th Field Company, Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army.
Citation
At Missy, on 14th Sept., under a heavy fire all day until 7 p.m., worked with his own hand two rafts bringing back wounded and returning with ammunition; thus enabling advanced Brigade to maintain its position across the river.
— The London Gazette, No. 28985, 25 November 1914
Death
He later achieved the rank of major. He was killed in action, Ypres, Belgium, on 8 June 1915.
The medal
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum (Chatham, England).
References
- ^ Johnston, William Henry, Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- The Sapper VCs (Gerald Napier, 1998)
- Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
- VCs of the First World War - 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)