Description
Queen’s South Africa, bar Relief of Mafeking, Corporal of Ordnance A.S. Johnston, British South Africa B.S.A. Police, later Canadian Engineers in WW1.
Officially impressed: “Corpl: Of Ord: A.S. Johnston. B.S.A. Police.”
Crisp condition, with very long original silk ribbon.
A rare confirmed single clasp for the Relief of Mafeking especially to this unusual rank.
The award of the medal, and single clasp was on the roll of the British South Africa Police, B.P. Bechuanaland Protectorate Division, the roll being written at Mafeking on 2nd November 1901.
He did not appear to get any further medals such as the KSA or any extra bars to his medal for his service in the Boer War, earning a BWM & Victory pair for his services with the Canadian Engineers.
Alexander “Alex” Stanley Johnston, was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England circa 1878.
He somehow ended up in South Africa, during the early stages of the Boer War, his later profession (during 1906) as a Mining Engineer would suggest like many young men he was likely swept up by the promises of riches in the Gold and Diamond Mines during the boom of the 1890s.
He served in the “Relief of Mafeking” Campaign, the town of Mafeking becoming under-siege the day that the war began, the BSA Police, including Mr Johnston mounted up with Colonel Plumer’s relief column in order to free their comrades (About 100 BSA Policemen were besieged), Plumer’s Column had about 988 Officers and Men, with about 500 horses, of which about 200 of the Mounted Men were from the BSA Police.
Following his Boer War Service, having finished off his 5 1/2 years in the B.S.A. Police, he moved on to Canada, coming to Cumberland British Columbia about 1906.
He is later shown on a 1910 crew list stamped as a “Returning Canadian” working as a Mining Engineer
At the time of World War 1, a now 38 year old was living in Cumberland British Columbia, near Vancouver, Canada, when he signed up for active service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
His trade actually changes with each piece of papers, he was a “Provincial Policeman” and later “Engineer”
He notes on enlistment that he some experience in the Army stating: “5 1/2 years British South African Police Mounted”
He was posted to the Canadian Engineers with service number 505847.
Notes his mother as Alexandra Johnston, Indus, Livingston Road, Portsmouth. (Maria Anne Johnston born 1837 Sigewell Sap Suffolk)
and As he was a Bachelor, to contact his sister on death, Mrs Thomas King, also at Livingston Road.
You can view his extensive Canadian Army records here:
https://central.bac-lac.canada.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B4847-S046
Served Canada, 11th August 1916 – 1st Nov 1916
England, 1st Nov 1916 – 3rd June 1918
France, 3rd June 1918 – 14th April 1919.”
He was first sent over to England with the Canadian Engineers leaving Canada in November 1916.
Serving some time in England at Shoreham and Sleaford through 1917 and into 1918.
Starting off as a basic “Sapper”, he was promoted to Acting Corporal on 17th June 1917, then Acting Sergeant on 27th August 1917, following by Acting Sergeant with Pay on 1st Dec 1917, this one says by “Major DAAG for Briggin AG Canadian”.
Most of his promotions came from his note “Good Work” as Storekeeper at what is now RAF Wyton for the Royal Flying Corps.
An unusual note on his records dated 29th January 1918 recalls his busy previous postings as:
War Office Letter: “Reported for duty with DFW (Aviation) W.O. 26.2.17, Employed as Storekeeper at Wyton Aerodrome, Huntingdonshire from 26.2.17 to 9.9.17, transferred to Bury Aerodrome, Huntingdonshire as Storekeeper from 10.9.1917, promoted to Acting Sergeant with Pay from 1.12.1917 for good work (vide War Office Letter 59/716 to DFW Aviation). d/28.12.17 and 12.1.18 under A.G. Canadian.”
It looks like whilst he was in England he was taken of a Storekeeper at RAF Wyton, which at the time of 1916 had been recently established as a Royal Flying Corps airfield, and around this time it was home to 65, 83 and 104 Squadrons of the RFC.
Leaving the Aerodrome service, he was unfortunately from him “Reverts back to Sapper to proceed Overseas.” on 21st June 1918.
He was then deployed to France for Active Service, with 4th Bn Canadian Engineers.
He looks to have returned back to England in April 1919, then sent back from Witley to Canada in May 1919.
having returned back to Canada, he was demobilised officially on 25th August 1919, at Vancouver.
The 1921 Census recalls him working as a Coal Miner in Cumberland, recording that he had first emigrated to Canada in 1906.
He later died on 11th December 1938 as stamped on his records.
