#11162, Francis Earl Featherston JOHNSTON

Francis was the eldest son of merchant Charles John Johnston who later became the Speaker of the New Zealand Legislative Council. He was educated at Stonyhurst and RMC Sandhurst where he won the Sword of Honour.

He was commissioned into the North Staffordshire Regiment in 1891. He saw service in the Sudan and in the Second Boer War for which he was mentioned in despatches. In WWI he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force being posted to Egypt prior to leading the 1st Infantry Brigade for part of the Gallipoli campaign after which he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath and mentioned twice in despatches.

Despite fighting ill health he commanded his Brigade on the Western Front and was again mentioned in despatches for his leadership during the Battle of the Somme. After medical treatment in England he returned to the front in July 1917 as commander of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Visiting the front lines the following month, he was killed by sniper fire; one of the three New Zealand brigadier generals killed during the war.

August 2016