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Private Hugh Hall Johnston

 

Hugh Hall Johnston was born on 27 May 1892 at Ballynamaddy, Dundermot, Clough, County Antrim, the first of ten children of farm labourer (later farmer) William James Johnston and his wife Lizzie (née Stewart). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at nearby Ballybogy at the farm of Thomas Roy, where he worked as a farm servant.

Johnston enlisted in the North Irish Horse in late May or early June 1917 (regimental number between 2462 and 2491). He trained at the regiment's reserve camp at Antrim but did not serve overseas, being demobilised in 1919.

In May 1920 he emigrated to New Zealand. He died there on 1 August 1960 and is commemorated in the Canterbury Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, Bromley, Christchurch City.

 

 

Hugh's brother Thomas Johnston also served in the war, in the North Irish Horse and Royal Irish Rifles. He was killed in France on 24 March 1918.

 

Image sourced from the Find-a-Grave site.