William Johnston was the youngest son of Thomas and Barbara Johnston. He was born about 1894. He was one of eleven children. Most of the family were born in the Enniskillen area. By 1901 the family were living in Castlecaulfield. They later moved to Belfast. William was a grocer’s assistant. Private William Johnston was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
Further Information
William Johnston was the youngest son of Thomas and Barbara Johnston. Thomas Johnston and Barbara Reid were married on 21st April 1881 in the district of Fermanagh.
William Johnston was born about 1894. He was one of eleven children. His military records say he was born in the Shankill in Belfast. No GRONI record can be found. Up until then, all the older children were born in Enniskillen.
Known family: Thomas Johnston, Barbara Johnston, Margaret Johnston (born 1st February 1882, Enniskillen), Dinah Johnston (born 26th February 18832, Enniskillen), Kate Johnston (born 17th May 1884, twin2, Enniskillen), Alice Johnston (born 17th May 1884. twin2, Enniskillen), Thomas Johnston (born 29th August 18852, Enniskillen), Florence Johnston (born 24th March 18872, Enniskillen), Louisa Johnston (born 27th August 18882, Enniskillen), William Johnston (born about 1894), Emily Johnston (born about 1896), Sarah Johnston (born 30th April 1899, Dungannon), Martha Johnston (born about 1903).
The 1901 census lists William as age 7, living with his family at house 25 in Factory Row, Drumreany, Castlecaulfield, County Tyrone. His father was a farm labourer. His older siblings worked in a local linen factory.
The 1911 census lists William as age 15, living with his family at house 194 in Mayo Street, Woodvale, Belfast. William was a grocer’s assistant.
William Johnston enlisted in Belfast.
Private William Johnston arrived in France with the Royal Irish Rifles on 5th October1915.
Private William Johnston was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was killed in action on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on Saturday 1st July 1916.
Private William Johnston has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.
