William Eli Johnston

Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19180221-37-6 

Land had been cleared and ploughed for the soldiers’ cemetery within Waikumete, however the burial areas were yet to be laid out when retired 2^nd Lieutenant William Eli Johnston was interred in the soldiers’ area now known as Service Persons Area A, Row 1, Plot 1 on the afternoon of 22^nd January 1918. His was the very first interment in Waikumete’s soldiers’ cemetery. [1] [2] [3] Although the cemetery has undergone changes over the century that it has been in existence, Johnston’s original grave marker remains on the grave site. The white marble Calvary cross carved with roses had fallen from its steps at some stage and now lays flat within the marble coping which encloses the grave, remaining a handsome tribute to the man who was William Eli Johnston and a special part of the history of the cemetery.

Johnston’s military personnel file states that he was born at Hokitika on the 7^th October 1869. [4] He was the only son of at least 7 siblings, 2 of whom are known to have sadly died before they reached the age of 3 years. [5] [6] [7] [8] The Dairy farming family lived on land near Hokitika during William Johnston’s early years. [9] [11]

Just a young boy when his Scottish born father John who was a man much loved and respected, passed away at the family home in August 1875 at the age of 30 years after bravely suffering with pulmonary consumption or tuberculosis. [10] He and his sisters were fortunate to have a roof provided over their heads thanks to their father who made a will on his death bed. Although John Johnston who was quite literate was too weak to sign his name to his last will and testament, his mark and an affidavit by witnesses was sufficient to ensure that all he possessed was left to his dear wife, which included the house and furniture and his half share of the land, cows, horses and equipment of the firm Johnston & Co which was wound up. Accounts show that the £346 his widow was to inherit as the half share of the late company was cancelled out by medical expenses in caring for her husband and in legal and funeral costs. [11] [12]

18 months later the widow Elizabeth Johnston went on to marry local man Eli Dove and they remained in the Hokitika area [13] [14] [15] where her son grew up and also went on to farm, working for his step father a dairyman. [4] 

William Johnston married Annie Christine Gerbarelt in Hokitika on the 12^th of May 1896. Their first child, a son named William Eli arrived the next year followed by a daughter Mavis Elizabeth born in 1899, Mary Hammond in 1903, and George Colin born in 1908. [4]

In January 1902 Johnston sent a letter to Major Wolfe requesting his recommendation for a commission in 9th New Zealand contingent for the South African War between the British Empire and the Boer South African Republic, to which New Zealand contributed more than 6500 men and 8000 horses in the first overseas conflict the country was to engage in. [16]

Many volunteers came forward, the best were selected who were of at least 5 foot 6 inches tall between the ages of 25 and 40 years with horsemanship ability from the country’s small permanent forces and part time volunteer units. [17] [18] And by March, aged 32, with 14 years voluntary experience and a Lieutenant with the 1^st Westland Rifles, Johnston attested to serve with the Imperial troops and proceeded to south Africa toserve as a lieutenant of the 9^th New Zealand contingent of mounted riflemen comprised of 48 officers and over 1000 men. [4] [19]

The men of the 9^th saw little fighting on their South African adventure through Natal and Transvaal. [20] However the 1102 men from the 6^th, 7^th, 8^th, 9^th and 10th Contingents who were aboard the Orient with Johnston came under viral attack on their return voyage home, with as many as 15 men per day falling ill with measles [20] [21]. The ship was quarantined when it reached Albany, Australia and after disembarking men at Port Chalmers and Lyttleton, approximately 60 were found to have the virus upon arrival at Wellington. The men were detained on board the vessel for 2 days as there was thought to be a case of small pox among them, after which they were taken to the quarantine station on Soames Island for another few days once vaccinated. Fortunately not many from the Orient were seriously affected by the measles which had claimed lives on the troopship Montrose. [21] [22] Those who were in a more serious condition were treated in hospital, and 4 days after arrival in Wellington Johnston was hospitalised on Soames Island for 8 days suffering with Measles and Pneumonia. Still weak when released on 2 months leave, outdoor treatment was recommended. [4] As there were 277 deaths attributed to measles in New Zealand during 1902, and measles related deaths were commonly due to bacterial pneumonia [23] [24] Johnston appears to have dodged a fatal bullet.

Returning to civilian life Johnston was engaged in farming in Taranaki and the Waikato, living in Pio Pio near Te Kuiti for some years. [4] [15]

Keeping the New Zealand Expeditionary Force up to strength since the outbreak of the first world war in August 1914 was an increasing challenge for the New Zealand Government, and in October 1915 the age limit to enlist for service was raised from 40 to 45 years due to the demand for more soldiers. This enabled a grey haired Johnston of the 81^st Company Cadets to sign up. He did so that month to the Mounted Rifles and was taken on as a probationary officer. Although having previously attested in August his service was not taken into account until October. [25] [4]

Lieutenant Johnston embarked from Wellington on the 2^nd of April 1916 for Suez, Egypt, and after a month-long voyage was transferred from J company of the 11^th Reinforcements to the 1^st Auckland Infantry Battalion. In a few short weeks he was on his way to Marseilles France.  At the beginning of July Johnston was posted to the 2nd Auckland Infantry Battalion to which he was appointed brigade salvage officer for a short time and later carried out duties at the Base Depot. [4]

He was admitted to Liverpool Merchants Hospital, Estaples, France for 10 days on the 8^th of August 1916 and returned to duty for just a week before he was admitted to 2nd London General Hospital, in Chelsea and after examination by the medical board was found unfit for service for 3 months and  was invalided home due to ill health. [4]

Johnston was granted sick leave and returned by the Athenic in November suffering influenza and debility, arriving in New Zealand with a debilitating cough and persistent emaciation he was diagnosed with  Pulmanary tuberculosis and not expected to live much longer. Medically boarded in December, he was recommended for discharge with total pension and was struck off the main roll in January 1917, and nominally returned to his home territorial unit. [4]

He served for 1 year and 96 days spending 238 days overseas and was awarded the British war medal and victory medal for his WW1 service, yet was never to wear these upon his chest as he could with the Queens Imperial South African War medal with 1902 and Transvaal clasps that he had received for his service in the Transvaal, as they were forwarded to his wife well after his death. [4] [32]

His eldest son William Eli Junior a Sergent of the 33^rd Reinforcement Specialist Company was serving overseas with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force when Johnston passed away 12 months later. Although his military personnel file suggests that he succumbed to the same cruel disease that took the life of his father, and the media reports that shell shock was the cause of his death, Auckland Hospital records show that Johnston was admitted to ward 2 of Auckland Hospital on the 17^th January 1918 suffering nephritis and cardiac disease. He passed away 4 days later at Auckland Hospital on the 21^st January 1918 of chronic valvular disease of the heart. [26] [27] [28] [31] [3] 

10069 2^nd Lieutenant William Eli Johnston was interred the following afternoon with military honours. The funeral cortege left his home ‘Glen Brae‘,  Lochiel Rd, Remuera at 2pm Tuesday 22^nd January with his casket conveyed to the cemetery upon a gun carriage provided by the Field Artillery. The firing party under Lieutenant Allman had travelled by ferry from Narrow Neck Camp for the solemn occasion, and residents from Pio Pio including Dr. McLeod, representatives from the Auckland Council and from the Returned Services Association were in attendance. [4] [3] [29]

The grave of William Eli Johnston at sunset
Photo: Cathy Currie

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them”.

-  Laurence Binyon, For the Fallen

Johnston’s headstone is inscribed:

In Loving Memory

of

No 10069 Lieut. W. E. JOHNSTON

2nd Auckland Battl. N.Z.E.F.

Died at Auckland 21st Jan. 1918

aged 48

A loving husband & father

So loved, so mourned

Compiled by Cathy Currie with the use of the following sources:

[1] WAIKUMETE CEMETERY., Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 46, 22 February 1918

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19180222.2.70

[2] Auckland Council burial and cremation online data base  https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/cemeteries/Pages/find-burial-cremation.aspx

[3] LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS., New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16755, 23 January 1918 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19180123.2.15

[4] William Eli - SA N/N, WWI 10069 - Army (R20521130) 1899 – 1917 AABK 18805 W5515 29 / 0002872
http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=20521130

[5] Citing New Zealand Government birth registrations:

1861/12174     Johnston     Martha Elizabeth    John

1862/11588     Johnston     Anne    Elizabeth    John

1864/16899     Johnston     Jane     Elizabeth    John

1866/31032     Johnston     William Elizabeth    John

1868/34876     Johnston     Catherine  Elizabeth    John

1870/32297     Johnston     Mary Wylie  Elizabeth    John

1871/39517     Johnston     Joan      Elizabeth    John

1873/32322     Johnston     Mary     Elizabeth    John

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/

[6] Citing New Zealand Government death registrations:

1871/7560        Johnston            Mary Wylie    10M

1875/4580        Johnston            John    30Y

https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/

[7] Westland district council cemetery records (John Johnston)

https://e-search.westlanddc.govt.nz/cemeteries/

[8] Headstone inscription John and Mary Johnston, New Zealand Cemetery Records Hokitika – New Zealand Society of Genealogists

[9] New Zealand Electoral Rolls 1870 – 1871 and 1875 -76 Westland South, West Coast.

New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 Auckland, New Zealand: BAB microfilming. Microfiche publication, 4032 fiche. Ancestry.com.

[10] DEATH., West Coast Times, Issue 3081, 21 August 1875

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18750821.2.6

[11] John Johnston Hokitika probate files, 1865-1953, record number HKD32/1875, Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office; FamilySearch digital folder 007209263.

[12] John Johnston Hokitika probate files, 1865-1953, record number HK144/1875, Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office; FamilySearch digital folder 007272735

[13] MARRIAGE., West Coast Times, Issue 2425, 6 January 1877 http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WCT18770106.2.5

[14] New Zealand City & Area Directories, 1866–1955. Microfilm publication, 921 fiche. Anne Bromell Collection, BAB Microfilming. Auckland, New Zealand. 1913, 1910, 1907, 1904, 1903, 1902, 1901, 1876.

[15] New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853–1981. Auckland, New Zealand: BAB microfilming. Microfiche publication, 4032 fiche.    1880, 1885, 1890, 1896, 1900, 1905, 1911, 1914.

[16] South African War 1899-1902, URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/south-african-boer-war/introduction, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 18-May-2016

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/south-african-boer-war/introduction

[17] New Zealand's response: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/south-african-boer-war/new-zealands-response, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 18-May-2016

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/south-african-boer-war/new-zealands-response

[18] https://teara.govt.nz/en/south-african-war/print

[19] NEW ZEALAND MOUNTED RIFLES South African War 1899 – 1902

 http://www.nzmr.org/history.htm

[20] THE NINTH CONTINGENT., New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12047, 18 August 1902

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19020818.2.76

[21] LIFE ON TROOPSHIPS., Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 186, 7 August http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19020807.2.68.2

[22] SMALLPOX ON THE ORIENT., Otago Daily Times, Issue 12440, 25 August 1902, Supplement

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19020825.2.100

[23] Measles deaths New Zealand - Timeline of Epidemics in New Zealand
https://teara.govt.nz/files/27772-enz.pdf

[24] Measles Epidemics of Variable Lethality in the Early 20th Century.
G. Dennis Shanks  Zheng Hu  Michael Waller Seung-eun Lee  Daniel Terfa  Alan Howard Elizabeth van Heyningen  John F. Brundage.
American Journal of Epidemiology, Volume 179, Issue 4, 15 February 2014, Pages 413–422, https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwt282

[25] Recruiting and Conscription:
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/recruiting-and-conscription, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 17-Nov-2016

[26] JOHNSTON, William Eli - WWI 54664, WWII 813012 - Army (R24060333) 1914 - 1945

AABK  18805  W5922  39 / 0061312

https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=24060333&digital=yes

[27] Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998,  database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2XL-D9MR : 12 November 2017), William Eli Johnston, 1918; citing Auckland, , record number 11848, Archives New Zealand, Auckland Regional Office; FamilySearch digital folder 101460841.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSM7-N3G5-9?i=27&cc=1865481

[28] OBITUARY., Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 19, 22 January 1918

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19180122.2.45

[29] Auckland Hospital Register of Patient Admission and Discharge No 3 May 1917 – Dec 1918 Archives New Zealand Ref AFJK A1811 15266 /1a /c

[30] Auckland Hospital Register of Deaths 1905 – 1941 Archives New Zealand Ref ZAAP A475 15289/ 1a

[31] Image Johnston - Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19180221-37-6

[32]  New Zealand Defence Force Medals http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/category/h/h2.html

Image grave of Johnston - Cathy Currie