1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
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 (née Cuthbertson) who were married on the 12th September 1889 at Whitehaven Register Office.
The marriage was reported in the Whitehaven News on Thursday 19th September 1889;
JOHNSTON-CUTHBERTSON. On the 12th inst., at the Register-office, Whitehaven, Mr Robert Lawson Johnston to Miss Hannah Cuthbertson, both of Asby, Arlecdon.
Before the marriage mother Hannah had two illegitimate children, Hannah Elizabeth Cuthbertson in 1884, and John Wilson Cuthbertson in 1886.
On the 1891 Census at Branthwaite, Dean, Cumberland, the two children are the “visitors” of widower, Joseph Cuthbertson, who is aged 40, and is a coal miner.
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 1850, whilst his mother Hannah was born at Camerton in 1862. George's siblings, all born at Asby, are shown as; Ann, born in 1893, Martha, born in 1894, David, born in 1896, Jane, born in 1898 and William, born in 1900. Also present are a relative Wilson Kirbison and his son John.
His father died, aged 59, in 1910.
His death was reported in the Whitehaven Advertiser and Cleator Moor and Egremont Observer on Saturday 19th March 1910;
JOHNSTON. - On the 5th inst., at Asby, Mr. Robert Lawson Johnston.
The 1911 Census shows George as a 20 year old coal miner (hewer) living with his widowed mother, a charwoman, who is aged 48, and siblings David, aged 15,who is a mine labourer, Jane, aged 13 and William, aged 11 are at school. Also present are visitors John Wilson Cuthbertson (George’s brother probably) 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.
His death was reported in the Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) on Tuesday 18th September 1917;
Died of Wounds.
KING'S (LIVERPOOL REGIMENT). - Dale 358021 W. H. (Liverpool); Howard 203061 С. Е. (Liverpool); Johnston 204777 G. (Branthwaite); Peckitt 50535 R. F. (Moss Side),
He earned his two medals.
His Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £10 12s 10d was shared by his mother Hannah and brothers David and William, sisters Ann Hall, Martha and Jane.
His mother received a £12 War Gratuity but no pension card has been found for George, however, she is described as the mother of John Wilson Cuthbertson on another pension record, receiving 13/- pw. He served as L/Sgt 13190 Border Regt, drowned 13th October 1917 in France, aged 30.
John's death was reported in the West Cumberland Times on Saturday 20th October 1917;
CUTHBERTSON, Killed in action, in France, 14th inst., Sergeant John W. Cuthbertson, Border Regiment, beloved son of Hannah Johnston, Brow Bottom, Branthwaite, aged 30 years.
We little thought when he left home
That he would not return;
That he so soon in death would sleep,
And leave us here to mourn.
The unknown grave is the bitterest low,
None but his loved ones know;
For King and Country he did his best,
May God grant him eternal rest.
- Deeply mourned by mother and all at home.
A note on his Medal Roll says his British and Victory medals were returned to the Medal Office by a Railway Company on 27th November 1927, looks like a family member had lost them.
On the 1921 Census at Branthwaite, widow, Hannah, is aged 54, with David, aged 25, William, aged 21 and Martha, aged 10.
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.
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