Pte 204777 George Johnston

• Age: 27
• From: Asby, Cumberland
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Sunday 5th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Boulogne East Cem
  Panel Ref: IV.A.56

George was born in July 1890 in Asby, Cumberland, the son of Robert Lawson Johnston and his wife Hannah (nee Cuthbertson) who married in the third quarter of 1889.  

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 20 Asby Road,Whitehaven. George is shown as 10 years of age living with his parents and five siblings. His father, Robert Lawson, is a Carter born at Haile in 185, whilst his mother Hannah was born at Camerton in 1862. George's siblings, all born at Asby, are shown as; Ann b.1893, Martha b.1894, David b.1896, Jane b.1898 and William b. 1900. Also present are a relative Wilson Kribison and his son John.   

His father died in the first quarter of 1910.

The 1911 Census shows George as a 20 year old coal miner (hewer) living with his widowed mother and siblings; David, Jane and William. Also present are visitors John Wilson Cuthbertson and William Hall. Additionally there is a listing for a George Cuthbertson described as a 7 year old grandchild.   

George enlisted in Whitehaven and served originally as Private 8267 Border Regiment. Following a transfer he was serving in the 19th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 204777 when he died of wounds at 3 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples on the 05th August, 1917 during the Third Battle of Ypres. 

He now rests at Boulogne East Cemetery, France.

Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August 1914 when the Allies were forced to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas.

Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetiere de L'Est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right hand edge of the cemetery. In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen.

During the Second World War, hospitals were again posted to Boulogne for a short time in May 1940. The town was taken by the Germans at the end of that month and remained in their hands until recaptured by the Canadians on 22 September 1944.

Boulogne Eastern Cemetery contains 5,577 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 224 from the Second World War.

The Commonwealth plots were designed by Charles Holden.

Soldiers Effects to his  mother Hannah and brothers David and William, sisters Ann Hall, Martha and Jane.

A note on his Medal Roll says his British and Victory medals were returned to the Medal Office by a Railway Company on 27th Nov 1927, looks like a family member had lost them. 

We currently have no further information on George Johnston, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.