Roll of Honour

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Regiment: 16th Battalion London Regiment

Biography: Son of Alexander Johnston, master mariner ; born at sea, 24 April 1886 ; educated Grammar School, Aberdeen; graduated M.A., 1907. Johnston intended entering the Ministry, but had to postpone further study for reasons of health. He travelled on the Continent and then taught at Hipperholme, Yorkshire, and at Alnwick. In 1912 he entered Westminster College, Cambridge, to study for the Ministry ; here he had a very distinguished career, passing out with Honours and taking the first place in the College in 1915. He took his B.A. and B.D., at London University and was licensed as a preacher by the Presbytery of Liverpool. Johnston joined the army as a combatant, entering the Inns of Court O.T.C. in August 1915. In June 1916 he was gazetted to the London Regiment, and two months later left for France with the Queen's Westminster Rifles. His service abroad was short—he fell in action on the Somme on 10 September 1916. Though his career in the Church was thus cut short, Johnston had already shown his ability. A writer in ''The Presbyterian Messenger'' says of him : ''As a preacher his promise was great. He was everywhere recognized as a man of character and gifts.''

Date of Death: 10 September 1916

Burial Details: Name recorded on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 9 C.

Publication: Roll of Service, edited by Mabel Desborough Allardyce. Published 1921.

If you have photographs of anyone listed in the Roll of Honour (preferably in service uniform) or have any questions about this resource, please email memoriam@abdn.ac.uk.