Inistioge

• Walter Pollock Hamilton VC
• Robert Johnston VC

ROBERT JOHNSTON VC

• RANK / SERVICE:

Captain, later Major – Imperial Light Horse (Natal), South African Forces

• BORN:

13 August 1872, Laputa, Co Donegal, Ireland

• PARENTS:

Father – Robert Johnston QC

• CHILDREN:

Daughter – Edith Johnston, died 25 December 1945, aged 83 - Married Charles Newport

Son – Robert Johnston VC, of Ballygallow, Inistioge, Co Kilkenny

• EDUCATION:

King William’s College, Isle of Man

• DIED:

24 March 1950, aged 77, Kilkenny Nursing Home, Co Kilkenny

• BURIED:

26 March 1950, St Mary’s Churchyard, Inistioge, Co Kilkenny

• SERVICE RECORD:

1890 / 1894 - 5th Bn, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

1899  – Commissioned into Imperial Light Horse

21 October 1899 – Battle of Elandslaagte, 2nd Boer War

• HONOURS & AWARDS:

Victoria Cross

Queen’s South Africa Medal (1899-1902)

      two clasps “Elandslaagte” – “Defence of Ladysmoth”

King’s South Africa Medal (1901-1902)

      two clasps “South Africa 1901” – “South Africa 1902”

King George V Coronation Medal (1911)

King George VI Coronation Medal (1937)

• VICTORIA CROSS CITATION:

Imperial Light Horse, Captain Charles Mullins & Captain Robert Johnston

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 gallantry 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.

• VC INVESTITURE:

25th July 1901 by King Edward VII at St James’ Palace, London.

• INTERESTS:

Rugby – represented Ireland in 1893

Rugby – represented England XV in South Africa in 1897

Rugby – played for Transvaal in 1897

Rugby – played for Wanderers, Dublin, in 1897

• LOCATION OF VICTORIA CROSS:

A Victoria Cross medal (reported to belong to Robert Johnston and donated to the Imperial Light Horse Regiment) is in a display case on the wall of the Light Horse Bar in Kolkata, India.

For further information see www.victoriacross.org.uk/coireoth.htm#Kilkenny

We wish to express our gratitude to Iain Stewart of www.victoriacross.org.uk who provided the above information on Robert Johnston.