Samuel Johnston was the son of John and Isabella Johnston. He was born in Maghera on 18th April 1887. Samuel’s mother died in June 1906 in the Maghera area. Samuel emigrated to Toronto, Canada. Samuel Johnston married Elizabeth. They had four children. Samuel was a policeman with Toronto Police Force. Samuel Johnston enlisted on 8th January 1915 in Toronto. Private Samuel Johnston was serving with the 20th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry. On the morning of 16th September 1916, while on duty in support trenches near Courcelette, France, he was hit in the face by shrapnel from an enemy shell. His wound was dressed and he was taken to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station at Puchevillers. Private Samuel Johnston died of wounds the following day on 17th September 1916.
Further Information
Samuel Johnston was the son of John and Isabella Johnston. John Johnston married Isabella Cochrane on 27th May 1881 in the district of Magherafelt.
Samuel Johnston was born in Maghera on 18th April 1887.
Family: John Johnston, Isabella Johnston, John Johnston (born 3rd October 1882), Eliza Johnston (born 13th January 1885), Samuel Johnston (born 18th April 1887), Andrew Johnston (born 24th December 1889), Isabella Johnston (born 21st June 1892), James Johnston (born 30th October 1894), Sarah Jane Johnston (born 16th August 1897), William Henry Johnston (born 23rd August 1900).
The 1901 census does not list Samuel as living with the family at house 11 in Drumballyhagan, Tobermore, County Londonderry.
However, there is a possible 1901 census lists Samuel as age 13, working as a farm servant for the Hunter family at house 24 in Ballinahone More, Tobermore, County Londonderry.
Samuel’s mother, Isabella Johnston, died on 15th June 1906 in the Maghera area. She was 46 years old.
The 1911 census does not list Samuel as living with the family at house 2 in Fallagloon, Tullykeeran, County Londonderry. His father was a labourer.
Samuel emigrated to Toronto, Canada.
Samuel Johnston married Elizabeth. They had four children. At the time of enlisting, they were living at 15 Watson Drive, Toronto, Ontario.
Samuel was a policeman with Toronto Police Force.
Samuel Johnston enlisted on 8th January 1915 in Toronto. He listed his next of kin as his wife Elizabeth.
Private Samuel Johnston was serving with the 20th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry.
The Canadian Circumstances of Death Register records that while on duty in support trenches near Courcelette on the morning of 16th September, Private Samuel Johnson was hit in the face by shrapnel from an enemy shell. His wound was dressed and he was taken to No 3 Casualty Clearing Station.
Private Samuel Johnston died of wounds the following day on 17th September 1916. He was 29 years old.
From the Toronto Star dated 28th September 1916: Toronto Policeman Killed
Another Toronto Police Officer has given his life for his country, He is constable Samuel Johnston, of 51 Watson Avenue. Johnston fell in action on 17th September, according to the wire received by his wife from Ottawa. He leaves a wife and four children.
Private Samuel Johnston is buried in Plot IV of Puchevillers British Cemetery. In June 1916, just before the opening of the Battles of the Somme, the 3rd and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations came to Puchevillers. Plots I to V were made by those hospitals before the end of March 1917.
The CWGC record Private Samuel Johnston as the son of John and Isabel Johnson, of Maghera, Co. Derry, Ireland. He is also listed as the husband of Elizabeth Johnson of 499 St. John's Road, West Toronto, Ontario.
