KILLED IN ACTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16311, 13 August 1917, Page 2

KILLED IN ACTION.

NEW ZEALAND OFFICER, I (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assu.) Received 5.5 p.m., Aug. 12th. .. LONDON, Aug. 11. Brigadier-General Francis E. Johnston, of the North Staffords, attached to tho Now Zealand force, and a son of the Hon. Charles Johnston, M.L.C., of Wellington, has been Killed in action. BRIG.-GENERAL F. E. JOHNSTON, C.B. SHOT BY A SNIPER. | News of the death o: Brigadier-Gt-ueral Johnston, C.8., Commandant of the Isd Now Zealand Infantry brigade in France, who was killed by a sniper's bullet while inspecting the i rout-line trenches, was received" on all sides with deep regret (says the Wellington "Dominion"). The late Brig-adier-General Johnston, recognised as a most cfficeiit and gallant officer, had a winning personality, and was esteemed by all ranks in his command, and indeed by all who knew him. Following the death of Brigadier-General Brown I so closely, ifc will be realised that those | of the higher command in the New Zealand Force are suffering severely a.5 the result of the danger they share with tho men, who are doing so much tc reflect credit on our arms. Brigadier-General Francis Earl Johnston was the eldest son of the Hon. C. J. Johnston, M.L.C., Speaker of the Legislative Council. Ho was an old Wellington boy, having been born there on October 1, 1871, and was thus" 45 years of age. He joined the Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire) Regiment as second lieutenaut on December 5, 185)1, and was, promoted lieutenant on November 30, 1895, captain on May 13, i 1900. and major on February 16, 1911. He accompanied the expedition to Dongola, Sudan, in 1396, and took part in tho operations on Sept-ember 19, receiving the Egyptian medal with clasp and also the English medal. He served in tho South African war from 1900 to J 902. He was" mentioned in despatches twice, and received . the Queen's medal with three clasps and the King's medal with two clasps. On July 16, 1914, while on furlough in New Zealand from India, lie was appointed to the command of the Wellington military district, in which lie was born, for one year, succeeding Colonel Chaytor in the office. On the outbreak of war with Germany he received command of the "infantry Brigade, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which subsequently became the Ist New Zealand Infantry Brigade. Ho left with tho Main Body, and subsequently served with his brigade in Egypt, on the Canal, through the Gallipoli campaign, and with it m Fiance, except ior a break when he wa;s invalided to England, when lie took charge of Sling Camp. Tluouglii mi' lie won the esteem or his men, ! and everywhere was recognised as a brave and able lender. For his services on Gallipoli he received the C.B. The Johnston family, of Karori, has responded nobly to the call of the Motherland in tin's titanic war. and two of its son?, the late BrigadierGeneral V. E. Johnston and the late. Captain O. R. V. Johnston (killed at the Soninie\ have made the supreme sacrifice. Three other sons are all at prt-srnt in Frnnre.