Lieutenant Alexander Vyvyan Johnston

 

In 1901 His parents and four siblings are living at 20 Croxteth Grove, Toxteth. His father is a general commercial agent.  Alexander, 16, is a student at Malvern College, Worcestershire. He attended the school from 1900 to 1902, in No. 6 House, was a house prefect and played for the house cricket and Rugby XV teams. He belonged to the Malvern College Cadet Corps from October 1900 to April 1902, attaining the rank of Sergeant.

 

In 1911 Alexander, 26, is living at Park End Cottage, Milnthorpe, Westmorland. He is employed as Assistant Manager, explosive works (Gatebeck Gunpowder Works, near Kendal) and has a housekeeper.  His mother, 55, married, and his sister Gladys, 30, are living with his grandparents, James and Isabella Brougham at Bridge House, Carshalton, Surrey, with five servants. Her father, 84, is listed as Barrister and is registered with the High Court in Bankruptcy. Her mother, 75, is born in Liverpool.  His father, 60, married, listed as a a retired Brazil merchant, is living at ‘The Grove’, Meldreth, Cambridgeshire, with a cook and a housemaid. 

 

Alexander married Lilian Aimee Stavert in Kendal in 1914, announced in the Liverpool Echo on 24th July 1914: 

“July 23rd, at Natland, Westmorland, Alexander Vyvyan, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Logan Johnston, Meldreth, Cambs., to Lilian Aimee, younger daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Stavart, of Prizet, near Kendal.” 

 

Prior to enlisting he was employed at Gatebeck Gunpowder Works.

His service papers show that he joined the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as a Private. He applied for temporary commission on 28th November 1914. He gave his address at the time as 4th City Battalion, Tournament Hall, Edge Hill,Liverpool. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 01/02/1916. He arrived in France 23 March 1917 and joined his battalion 29/3/1917. He had transferred to the 12th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment by the time he was killed in action, aged 32 on 17th August, 1917 (CWGC incorrectly lists his age as 33.).

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

The telegram sent to his widow informing her of Alexander’s death reads,

“Deeply regret to inform you Lieut. A. V. Johnston King’s Liverpool Regiment was killed in action August sixteen. The Army Council express their sympathy.”

 

CWGC shows his date of death as 17th August, however, his Casualty Form shows his date of death as 18th August and his date of death was reported to the War Office as 18th August.

 

KIA Liverpool Echo on 25th August 1917:

 “August 16, killed in action, aged 32 Years, Alexander Vyvyan, Lieutenant King’s (Liverpool) Regiment, dearly-loved husband of Lilian Johnston of Endmoor, Kendal, and youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Logan Johnston of Meldreth.”

 

His medal card shows Lilian, Mrs. A. V. Johnston, at Whin Yeats, near Kendal, Westmorland. Alexander’s personal effects were sent from GHQ B.E.F. to Messrs. Cox & Co., Shipping Agency Ltd., 16 Charing Cross, London S.W.: 1 Leather Wallet, Photos, Statement A/c, 1 Box of studs, 2 stars, etc., 1 Cigarette case, 1 Flask, 3 Cap badges, 3 Keys (1 watch key), 1 Tube ink pellets, 1 Cheque book.

 

Probate, giving Alexander’s address as Park-end, Milnthorpe, Westmorland, and date of death as 16th August, was granted to his widow Lilian, effects £1144 12 10. (Formal will dated 23rd July 1914, the date of their marriage.)