Private Thomas Johnston
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present, other than that he was born around 1887 and his address soon after the war was Grove Lodge, Pettigo, County Donegal.
He may have been the Thomas Johnston born at Boolwater, Clonelly, County Fermanagh, the last of ten children of farmer James Johnston and his wife Anne (née Hilliard). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Drumawark, Pettigo, County Donegal, with his parents and a sister, and working on the family farm.
Thomas Johnston enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 1 and 26 February 1913 (No.791 – later Corps of Hussars No.71104). He embarked for France with a reinforcement draft for A and C Squadrons on 9 February 1915, and was probably posted to the former.
Johnston remained with the regiment throughout the war. On 11 June 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve. He was awarded a disability pension for 'gastritis', aggravated by his military service.