JOHNSTON, ROBERT, Captain, was born 13 August 1872, son of Robert
Johnston, QC, of Laputa, County Donegal. He was educated at King William's
College, Isle of Man, and joined the 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling
Fusiliers 1890-94. He served in South Africa 1899-1901, and was dangerously
wounded in the Siege of Ladysmith. He won the Victoria Cross at
Elandslaagte, and also received the Queen's Medal and bars and King's Medal
for his services in this campaign. The Imperial Light Horse was recruited
mostly from men from the gold mines of the Hand, and was commanded by
Colonel Chisholm and Majors Karri Davis and Sampson, the last two being well
known in connection with the Jameson Raid. His Victoria Cross was gazetted
12 February 1901: "Robert Johnston, Captain, Imperial Light Horse. On the
21st October 1899, at Elandslaagte, at a most critical moment, the advance
being momentarily checked by a very severe fire at point-blank range, these
two officers very gallantly rushed forward under this heavy fire and rallied
the men, thus enabling the flanking movement which decided the day to be
carried out. On this occasion Captain Mullins was wounded". In 1902 he was
Commandant at a concentration camp at Middelburg. In 1903 he was District
Commissioner on the Eastern Transvaal. In 1911 he joined the Irish Prison
Service. He was Commandant of the Prisoners of War at Oldcastle 1914-15,
and was appointed Governor of His Majesty's Convict Prison at Maryborough in
1915, but again seconded for prison service in 1916 to resume duty at
Oldcastle. Appointed a Resident Magistrate, Ireland, 1918. Major Johnston
was in the Irish Rugby XV in 1893, and in the English Rugby XV in South
Africa in 1897. He was very fond of fishing and golf.
JOHNSTON, ROBERT, Captain, was born 13 August 1872, son of Robert
Johnston, QC, of Laputa, County Donegal. He was educated at King William's
College, Isle of Man, and joined the 5th Battalion Royal Inniskilling
Fusiliers 1890-94. He served in South Africa 1899-1901, and was dangerously
wounded in the Siege of Ladysmith. He won the Victoria Cross at
Elandslaagte, and also received the Queen's Medal and bars and King's Medal
for his services in this campaign. The Imperial Light Horse was recruited
mostly from men from the gold mines of the Hand, and was commanded by
Colonel Chisholm and Majors Karri Davis and Sampson, the last two being well
known in connection with the Jameson Raid. His Victoria Cross was gazetted
12 February 1901: "Robert Johnston, Captain, Imperial Light Horse. On the
21st October 1899, at Elandslaagte, at a most critical moment, the advance
being momentarily checked by a very severe fire at point-blank range, these
two officers very gallantly rushed forward under this heavy fire and rallied
the men, thus enabling the flanking movement which decided the day to be
carried out. On this occasion Captain Mullins was wounded". In 1902 he was
Commandant at a concentration camp at Middelburg. In 1903 he was District
Commissioner on the Eastern Transvaal. In 1911 he joined the Irish Prison
Service. He was Commandant of the Prisoners of War at Oldcastle 1914-15,
and was appointed Governor of His Majesty's Convict Prison at Maryborough in
1915, but again seconded for prison service in 1916 to resume duty at
Oldcastle. Appointed a Resident Magistrate, Ireland, 1918. Major Johnston
was in the Irish Rugby XV in 1893, and in the English Rugby XV in South
Africa in 1897. He was very fond of fishing and golf.