KILLED IN ACTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1746, 11 August 1917, Page 3

KILLED IN ACTION.

BRIGADIEII -GENERAL JOHNSTON. The Xcw Zealand Army has sustained another very'heavy loss by the death of Brigadier-General Francis Earl Johnston, C.D., Commander of [he l-i X.Z. Infantry Brigade, who lias been killed in action. Am official cable received by the Defence Department advised that General Johnston had been killed by a sniper's build, while he was inspecting I lie front line trenches. Brigadier-General Francis Earl Johns! on was the eldest son of I lie lion. C. J. Johnston, M.L.C., Speaker of the Legislative Council. He was an old Wellington boy, having been born there on Ist October, 1.871, and was thus 45 years of age. He joined the Prince of Wales’ (Forth SlnlVordshire) Regiment as second lieutenant on sth December, 1891, and was promoted lieutenant on 391 h November, 1895, captain on IJih May, 1.991), and major on Kith February, .1911, lie accompanied Ibe expedition to Dongola, Sudan, in 1891), and lonic part in the operations on 19Hi September, receiving tin- Egyptian medal with clasp and also the English medal. Tie served in (lie South African war from 1909 to 1.992, taking part in operations in (lie Transvaal (October, 1009, to J 1 s| May, 1902). lie wits mentioned in despatches on JStli and 201 h July, .1992, and received (he (jneeii’s medal with three clasps and the King's medal with two clasps. On Itilli July, lON, while on furlough in New Zealand from .India, he was appointed to Hie command of Ihe Wellington military district, in which lie was horn, for.one year, succeeding Colonel Chaylor in the office. On the oulbmtk of war'wilh Oci'iiiany in August, 1911, lie received command of the Infantry Brigade. New Zealand Expeditionary 'Force, which subsequently became the First Xcw Zealand lufaiilry Brigade, lie left in command with the Main Body, and subsequently served with his brigade in Egypt, on the Canal, through the Gallipoli campaign, and with it in France ever since. Throughout lie won the esteem of his men, and everywhere urns recognised as a brave and able leader. For his services on Gallipoli he rcce'.vd the C.B. General Johnston married a daughter of the late Mr A. 0. .Fell, of Wellington. Ill's wife followed him to Egypt, and died there a few mouths afterwards.