Johnston, Andrew
Private
No. 14349, 9th Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers)
Killed in action on Saturday 1 July 1916 (aged 21)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 A)
Portadown and District War Memorial
Newtownards and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
In some records, his surname is spelt Johnstone.
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Andrew Johnston was born in Newtownards and he enlisted in Portadown.
Andrew Johnston was born on 6 July 1894 in South Street, Newtownards and he was a son of Robert and Anne Johnston (nee Baxter) who were married on 2 August 1877 in Shankhill Parish Church of Ireland Church Portadown.
Robert Johnston worked as a tinsmith and he and Anne (sometimes Agnes) had at least nine children including:
Esther (Essie, born 17 September 1881 in Newcastle, Portaferry)
Daniel (born 30 January 1892 in South Street, Newtownards)
Andrew (born 6 July 1894 in South Street, Newtownards)
The Johnston family moved to Portadown where they lived at 149 West Street.
Andrew Johnston worked as a carder of tow before the outbreak of the Great War and he enlisted in Portadown.
Private Andrew Johnston served with the 9th Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and he was 21 when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme.
Private Andrew Johnston has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France; on Portadown and District War Memorial and on Newtownards and District War Memorial where his surname is spelt Johnstone.
Private Andrew Johnston’s father, Robert, died of bronchitis at 149 West Street, Portadown on 18 March 1920 (aged 68)