Gnr. Richard George Johnston

Richard George Johnston was born in Ireland on 21 September 1892 to George Johnston and Sarah Johnston. George was born in Ireland, Sarah in England. The family emigrated to New Zealand in the early 1900s with Richard's Military Personnel File stating his father had been resident in New Zealand for 6 years in 1917. At some stage they lived at 38 Bangor Street in Christchurch. Richard had been part of the R.F.A. [Royal Fleet Auxiliary] in England (2yrs, 251 days). During World War I, Richard joined the New Zealand Field Artillery, Reserve. While in England he married Harriett Byrne at All Saints in Fleet on 23 January 1918. Their daughter Muriel Zillah Johnston born at Hartley Wintney in Hampshire on 4 November 1918. Richard's health was not good so he was sent home to New Zealand. The 1919 NZ Electoral Roll lists him at Coronation Hospital in Cashmere Hills. Richard died of pneumonia at Chalmers (Isolation) Hospital in Christchurch on 25 December 1919. He was buried in Sydenham Cemetery. Harriett married Ernest Kilburn in 1922. Daughter Muriel married previous prisoner-of-war Andrew John Dann in 1945. Bio by Debbie McCauley (29 Jul 2024). Note: Still trying to trace the death of Richard's parents (djm).

Sources

1. Cenotaph: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/...
2. New Zealand and World War One Roll of Honour: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/nzefrohJ.html / Ref 10.4.2021
3. Surrey, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1937