Private John Johnston
Johnston (standing). The image was taken between 1918 and 1920 (note his overseas service chevrons). The cap badge on both men could be North Irish Horse or 8th Hussars.
John Johnston was born on 13 February 1895 at Ballynagappog, Rathfriland, County Down, the first of six children of farmer John Johnston and his wife Annie (née Thompson). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Burenbane, Bryansford, County Down, and working on the farm of James Bingham and family. He was later employed as a groom on the Tullamore Park estate of Robert Jocelyn, Earl of Roden (an officer of the North Irish Horse).
Johnston enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 3 and 18 January 1912 (No.652 – later Corps of Hussars No.71057).
He embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne. A Squadron then served as escort and bodyguard to the BEF's commander-in-chief at St Omer, from October 1914 until January 1916, when it was posted as divisional cavalry to the 55th Division.
In May 1916 A Squadron came together with D and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. This meant a 25 per cent reduction in the regiment's numbers. Johnston may have been transferred to the 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars at this time, as were a number of other men of the regiment.
He later served in the army of occupation in Germany before being posted to the Curragh. He was discharged in late 1920 or early 1921.
On 25 October 1920, while still a soldier, he married Margaret Tougher in St Clement's Church of Ireland Church, Belfast. The couple had three children over the next four years. On 20 May 1921, while still married to Margaret, he married farmer's daughter Annie McKee in the Hilltown Church of Ireland Parish Church, Clonduff, County Down.
Charged with bigamy four years later, the Lurgan Mail of 17 October 1925 reported that:
John Johnston, an ex-North Irish Horseman, of Drumnascamp, near Rathfriland, pleaded guilty at Newry Quarter Sessions on Tuesday – before Judge Bates – to having, on 28th May, 1921, bigamously married Annie McKee, his lawful wife, Margaret Tocher, whom he married on 25th October, 1920, at St. Clement's Church, Belfast, being then alive.
Mr. George NcSpadden, who appeared for the accused, said the man fully appreciated the seriousness of his offence. He had been for five years a groom with the Earl of Roden, and went out with him with the North Irish Horse to the war in 1916 [sic], and served continuously till the end of the war, when he joined the army of occupation. On the 30th August, 1920, he was sent to the Curragh, and he there met his first wife, whom he subsequently met again in Belfast and married. He was a young fellow at the time, said Mr. McSpadden, and lacked that training which was necessary for the stability of character. As to the second marriage the accused, Mr. McSpadden said, had it arranged for him. He did not even ask the lady (laughter). She was asked for him, and the party who asked her was a witness at the accused's first marriage.
His Honour asked if the accused informed the second lady that he had been married before.
Mr. McSpadden said he didn't; he had drink on him at the time.
Sergt. Humphreys, Rathfriland, stated that he arrested the accused. The first wife was still living in Belfast, and working as a charwoman, and had three of a family. Accused was living with his second 'wife' who had had three children, two of whom were dead.
His Honour said there was no excuse for the deliberate and conscious wrongs, and sentenced the prisoner to six calendar months' imprisonment with hard labour.
By 1951 Johnston was living with his wife Annie at Ballyaughian, Rathfriland, and working as a labourer. He died at home on 13 September, the Northern Whig reporting that:
While listening to the broadcast of the [Randolph] Turpin – [Sugar Ray] Robinson fight on Thursday morning John Johnston (56), Ballyaughian, Hilltown, Rathfriland had a fatal seizure.
His name is included (twice) on the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Roll of Honour.
Image sourced from Ancestry.com Public Member Trees - contributor 'Our_Ancestors'.
This page last updated 29 April 2024.