OBITUARY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11250, 30 June 1922, Page 8

OBITUARY

CAPTAIN R. JOHNSTON. AN INTERESTING CAREER. Captain R. Johnston, Lower Hutt, died at an early hour yesterday morning, June 29th. He had been failing for some time, and passed away suddenly after a few hours illness. He was born at Brookhill Co., Leitrim, Ireland, and on. the death of his parents at an early age spent his boyhood at Oak Park, Donegal. He was educated at Foyle College, Londonderry, going from there to Dublin and yien to Sandhurst to complete his qualifications for the Army. Entering the 89th Regiment in 1354 he went to Crimea, where he saw some stirring warfare. From there he was invalided home, and then proceeded with his regiment to the Cape, where there was trouble in Zululand. During this time the mutiny broke out in India, and the 89th was one of the regiments ordered to proceed. Here 3io saw stirring times, especially- at Delhi and Agra. He married the Shiest daughter of Judge Taylor, of Ambala, and remained In India till the regiments were about to return to England. Determined to see more of life abroad be sold out and accompanied by his wife, set sail from Calcutta in. the Blackburn for Australia, and then to Dunedin, New Zealand. Taking up land he soon found that a military training did not meet with the requirements needed in farming and decided to give it up, and getting up a company proceeded to Auckland, where he joined the New Zealand Militia in about 1863. Here he served for some years in the Waikato The Alaori troubles came to an end. and so Captain Johnston turned his attention to teaching and started a grammar school, in which he was occupied until he decided to take service with the Wellington Education Board, under which he served for many years. He retired from public life about sixteen years ago, and resided a<t the Lower Hutt up to his death. Ho leaves a son and three daughters to mourn his loss.