Awards & Winners

Robert Johnston

Date of Birth 13-August-1872
Place of Birth County Donegal
(Ulster, Republic of Ireland, Ireland, Border Region)
Nationality Republic of Ireland
Profession Soldier
Major Robert Johnston VC, County Donegal, 13 August 1872 – Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, 24 March 1950) was an Irish rugby union player and soldier. During the Second Boer War, Johnston was awarded the Victoria Cross while serving with the Imperial Light Horse. The medal is displayed at the Light Horse Bar at The Saturday Club in Kolkata, India. He played rugby for both Ireland and the British Lions. He is one of three Ireland rugby union internationals to have been awarded the Victoria Cross. The other two are Tom Crean, who also served with the Imperial Light Horse in the Second Boer War, and Frederick Harvey who served in the First World War. Johnston, Crean and Harvey all played club rugby for Wanderers. In 1896 Johnston and Crean were also members of the same British Lions squad that toured South Africa . Johnston was also one of three alumni of King William's College to have been awarded the VC. The other two were George Stuart White and Robert Henry Cain. White served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War and Cain served in the Second World War.

Awards by Robert Johnston

Check all the awards nominated and won by Robert Johnston.

1899


Victoria Cross
(In recognition of most conspicuous bravery that took place on 21st October, 1899, as Captain of the Imperial Light Horse during the Second Boer War.)