Francis Earl Johnston
| Francis Earl Johnston | |
|---|---|
Brigadier General Francis Johnston
|
|
| Born |
1 October 1871 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Died | 7 August 1917 (aged 45) † France |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
British Army (1891–14) New Zealand Expeditionary Force (1914–17) |
| Years of service | 1891–1917 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Commands held |
New Zealand Rifle Brigade (1917) Sling Camp (1917) 1st Infantry Brigade (1914–16) |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Mentioned in Despatches (4) |
Mahdist War
Second Boer War
First World War
Brigadier General Francis Earl Johnston, CB (1 October 1871 – 7 August 1917) was a New Zealand-born British Army officer of the First World War, who was seconded to the New Zealand Military Forces, serving at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He commanded both the 1st Infantry Brigade and New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and was one of three New Zealand brigadier generals killed during the war.
Johnston was born in Wellington, New Zealand on 1 October 1871, the eldest son of merchant Charles John Johnston, who later became the Speaker of the Legislative Council. He was educated at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he was awarded the Sword of Honour as the best of his intake.
Johnston was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Prince of Wales’s North Staffordshire Regiment on 5 December 1891, and promoted to lieutenant on 30 November 1895. He saw service in the Sudan with the Dongola Expedition in 1896. Promoted to captain on 13 May 1900, he served from 1900 to 1902 in the Transvaal during the Second Boer War, for which he was mentioned in despatches (including one dated 1 June 1902, where he is commended for good service during the Battle of Boschbult 31 March 1902). In 1914, prior to the outbreak of the First World War, Johnston, now with the rank of major, was in New Zealand on leave from his regiment, which was then serving in India. He had been seconded to the New Zealand Military Forces as a temporary lieutenant colonel, and was appointed commander of the Wellington Military District.
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