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| Page revised: 15 January, 2008 |
Captain William Henry JOHNSTON VC |
| Born: | Leith, Scotland - 21 December 1879 | 
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| Died: | Ypres, Belgium - 8 June 1915 | ||
| Burial details: | Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Zillibeke, Belgium (Plot III, Row C, Grave 12) | ||
| Corps service: | Commission in the Corps on 23 March 1899. He saw foreign service in Gibraltar from 1900-1905 in the Intelligence Department. Promoted Lieutenant 19 November 1901. On his return to England he was attached to Survey Department until 1908. He was Gazetted as a General Staff Officer 3rd Grade for service in China. Attained Captain on 23 March 1908. | ||
| From 11 July 1908 to 26 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 war he joined the 59 Field Company of the Royal Engineers in the British Expeditionary Force serving throughout the winter of 1914-15. He saw action at the retreat from Mons and the battles of Aisne, the Marne, Neuve Chapelle and the first and second battles of Ypres. He was killed by a sniper on 8 June 1915 near Zwarteleen in the Ypres Salient, just four days after being appointed Brigade Major of 15 Brigade. | |||
| VC awarded: | Won VC at Missy, near Moulin des Roches, River Aisine, France on 14 September 1914. (First World War 1914-18) | ||
| VC unit: | 59 Field Company. | ||
| VC presented: | VC presented by King George V at General Headquarters, France on 3 December 1914 | ||
| VC citation: | At Missy on 14 September, under a heavy fire all day
until 7 p.m. worked with his own hands two rafts, bringing back wounded
and returning with ammunition, thus enabling advanced Brigade to maintain
its position across the river. (London Gazette: 25 November 1914) |
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| VC location: | Royal Engineers Museum | ||
| Source:
Additional material: SC Fenwick, FoREM Links to further reading:
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Royal Engineers Museum main site
