Henry Archer Johnstone
Educated Nottingham High School and Sedburgh School (1904-1908). He was a member of the Nottingham Rugby Club, Nottinghamshire Rugby RFC, Nottingham Rowing Club and Nottinghamshire Golf Club.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Henry Archer, known as Harry, was the second son of John and Ada Johnstone (née Archer).
Both his parents were born in Nottingham; John was the son of Scottish parents and was a prominent local solicitor. (See 'Extra information': Nottingham Evening Post, obituary, January 1914.)
John and Ada were married in about 1887 and had four sons who were all born in Nottingham: John Gordon b. 28 April 1888, Henry Archer b. 1890 (reg. JAS), William McCall b. 1892 (reg. JAS) and Herbert Alan b. February 1894.
John, his wife and their two sons, John and Henry, were living at 18 Elm Avenue, Nottingham, in 1891. Also in the household was a general domestic servant.
The couple and their four sons had moved to 68 Mapperley Road by 1901. John employed a 'nurse domestic' and a cook.
By 1911 John and Ada were recorded on the census at 14 Mapperley Road but only two of their sons, John, an articled clerk and solicitor, and William, were in the home on the night of the census. Also in the household were a cook, Ada Pierrepoint, and a housemaid. The youngest son, Herbert, was a boarder at Sedburgh School, Yorkshire, but Henry has not yet been traced on the census.
After John's retirement he and his wife moved to 'Fairmead', Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire, where he died on 4 January 1914. He was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery on 7 January.
His widow Ada was still living at 'Fairmead', Risley, in 1921. Also in the home was her son John, who had lived in Canada before the outbreak of war, had enlisted in Canada in 1914 (Canadian Expeditionary Force) and been discharged in 1919. Ada Pierrepoint, who was employed as a cook in 1911, was still with the family.
John Gordon, who was described on the 1921 Census as a 'war invalid', died of meningitis on 31 May 1922 aged 34. He was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery on 3 June.
Ada died on 6 September 1938 and was also buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.
Her youngest son, Herbert, had married Dorothy Winlaw Hooley (b. 1889), the daughter of Ernest T. Hooley, also of Risley, at Risley All Saints on 2 March 1921. They had two sons, William Alan (b. 1922) and Peter Franklin Gordon (b. 1927). Herbert, who had retired from work, and his wife were living at 'The White House', Derby Road, Risley, when the England & Wales Register was compiled in 1939. Also in the home were their youngest son Peter and Ada Pierrepont whose occupation was given as 'paid domestic duties'. Herbert's entry on the Register was annotated that he was a Derbyshire special constable and had been a member of the Red Cross, 1914-1918.
Herbert was still living at 'The White House' at the time of his death in April 1953 (obituary, Long Eaton Advertiser, 11 April 1953). He was survived by his wife and two sons, Peter, who was a solicitor and partner in the firm of Johnstone, Williams and Walker, and William, who was a director of John Gale & Co. Ltd, estate agents, Nottingham. Herbert's widow, Dorothy died in 1964; she was survived by her sons.
152nd Bde. Royal Field Artillery. Prev. 1443, 910437 Gunner RFA. Medals & Awards: 'Staff Captain acting Major'.
Major Henry Archer Johnstone served with BEF France from 8 January 1916.
He led his battalion in the appalling Battle of St Quentin (21-23 March 1918), when the RA was sent forward to secure German machine gun nests but was surrounded. Henry, and most of the Battalion, perished on 21 March 1918, the first day of the German Spring offensive ('Operation Michael').
Henry is buried in Wancourt British Cemetery, France (grave ref VIII.A.5); a photograph of his grave is on the CWGC website. The village was captured by the Germans in March 1918 and not recaptured until 26 August suggesting that Henry's grave was brought in to the Cemetery after the Armistice. (See below or use the link to the CWGC website.)
He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC history of Wancourt British Cemetery (extract): the village of Wancourt is about 8km. from the town of Arras. Wancourt was captured on 12 April 1917 after very heavy fighting and the advance was continued on the following days. The cemetery, called at first Cojeul Valley Cemetery, or River Road Cemetery, was opened about ten days later; it was used until October 1918, but was in German hands from March 1918 until 26 August, when the Canadian Corps recaptured Wancourt. At the Armistice, the cemetery contained 410 graves, but was very greatly increased in the following years when graves were brought in from the following small cemeteries and isolated positions on the battlefields south-east of Arras [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)
WMR 53194. Risley War Memorial, All Saints Churchyard, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire DE72 3SU. The three Johnstone brothers, Major Henry Archer RFA (k. 21 March 1918), Second Lieutenant William McColl RFA (k. 13 Feb. 1916), and Sergeant John Gordon, 28th Battalion C.E.F (d. 31 May 1922), are commemorated on the memorial. The fourth brother, Herbert Alan, known as 'Billy', also served in the war (Red Cross).
John Gordon Johnstone enlisted in Minnesota, Canada, on 18 December 1914. He was wounded in the chest by a sniper. John was discharged at Winnipeg on 10 April 1919.
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave and headstones. Inscriptions:
Headstone 1. ‘Write me as one that loves his fellow men.’ John Johnstone, died Jany. 4th 1914, aged 59 years. ‘Brave heart at rest.’ Also of Ada, beloved of John Johnstone, died Sept. 3rd. 1938, aged 73 years. Also John Gordon Johnstone. C.E.F. eldest son of the above, died May 31st. 1922.
Note: the quotation above John Johnstone's name is from the poem, 'Abou Ben Adhem’, by James Leigh Hunt.
Headstone 2. In memory of Sec. Lieut. William McCall Johnstone, killed in action Feby. 13th 1916, aged 23 (sic). Interred in Erquingham Cemetery. And of Major Henry Archer Johnstone, killed in action near Bullecourt, March 21st 1918, aged 28. Both of the 152nd Bgd. R.F.A.
CWGC Additional information: Son of John and Ada Johnstone, of Fairmead, Risley, Derbyshire. Native of Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Also in memory of Second Lieutenant William McC. Johnstone Royal Field Artillery 13 February 1916. Aged 24 buried at Erquinghem and Serjeant JG Johnstone 28th Battn. Canadians May 1922. Age 34'
William McCall Johnstone - CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Also in memory of Major Henry Archer Johnstone killed near Bullecourt March 21st 1918, age 28. And Serjeant JG Johnstone 28th Battn. Canadians May 1922. Age 34'
Nottingham Evening Post, 5 January 1914 (extract): ‘Death of Mr J Johnstone. A Former Member of the City Council. The death took place yesterday afternoon at the comparatively early age of 55, of Mr John Johnstone, of Firmead, Risley, near Sandiacre, at one time a member of the Nottingham City Council. Mr Johnstone had been in an indifferent state of health for some time … The son of Scottish parents Mr Johnstone had a long association with Nottingham. Having been educated at the High School, he was articled to Mr Jesse Hind. When placed on the roll of solicitors, he went into partnership with Mr Arthur Ashwell and formed the firm of Messrs. Ashwell and Johnstone. When the partnership was dissolved, Mr Johnstone practised on his own account for a time, and then joined Mr. Samuel Williams, in the firm of Messrs. Johnstone and Williams, solicitors … Mr. Johnstone retired from business about two years ago, and went to live at Risley … [represented the Manvers Ward on the Town Council in 1895 and was a member for 12 years] .. A member of the Presbyterian Church, Mr Johnstone was one of the founders of the Mansfield-road Church …’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
The funeral of Mr John Johnstone at Nottingham General Cemetery on 7 January was reported in the Nottingham Evening Post on the same date. 'Principal mourners, Mr William Johnstone (father), Messrs H Johnstone, William Johnstone, and Alan Johnstone (sons), Mr J Johnstone, Mr H Johnstone, Mr and Mrs Joseph Johnstone, Messrs AG Howitt, TP Foster, T Roberts, JA Howitt, G Howitt, F Howitt, T Roberts jun., J Simpson, W Marshall, ad T Shipman.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, 2 April 1918: ‘The Roll of Honour. Another Batch of Local Officers … Killed. Major Harry Archer Johnstone of the RFA, who was killed in action on March 21st, was educated at the Nottingham High School and at Sedbergh and in August 1914, rejoined the Notts RHA as a gunner, receiving his commission in the RFA early in 1915. Always a keen sportsman, he was a member of the Nottingham Rowing Club, the Notts Rugby FC and the Notts. Golf Club. His brother, Lieut. W Johnstone, also of the RFA, was also killed in action early in 1916.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Note: Harry's fiancée, Marjorie Hooley of Risley Hall, was the youngest daughter of ET Hooley, the 'Splendid Bankrupt'. Marjorie's sister, Dorothy, married Harry's brother, Herbert Alan, in 1921.
'The Sedberghian', obituary and photograph: 'HA Johnstone, Major RGA. Harry Johnstone came to Mr LeMarchand’s House in 1904 and left in 1908. He was one of a family of brothers whose most conspicuous trait was intense loyalty, not only towards each other, but also to their School and House. The more intimately one knew them the more was their loyalty disclosed. Harry came to see the write of this notice on the morning of his last day in England, and it was fine to hear him talk of the days at Sedbergh. His old fondness for the place had, if possible, increased, and he shared the same enthusiasm when speaking of his life as a soldier. While at School he won the High Jump and the Quarter Mile. He was an excellent runner with an easy and graceful style, and appeared to be able to go on running for hours. But he had a weak sprint, or he might have won the Wilson Run in which he finished second. He gave his life in the great March offensive, and his many friends – enemies he had none – will deplore the loss of a true man, with the heart of a child.’
The names of HA Johnstone (Gunner RHA), W Johnstone (Gunner RHA) and Allan Johnstone (Sherwood Foresters) were included at the bottom of a printed list of members of the Nottingham Rowing Club who were on the Active Service List as at November 1914 under the heading, ‘Three sons of our late esteemed member John Johnstone are serving with the Colours.’ The list was inserted in the NRC Minute Book. (Nottinghamshire Archives, ref. DD/865/1/10, NRC Minute Book 1912-1919).
Photographs of 21 members of the Rowing Club, including Major HA Johnstone, are held in Nottinghamshire Archives (Ref. DD865/65/1-21).
Probate: administration of his Will awarded to his mother, Ada Johnstone. Effects £932.
Henry Archer Johnstone
Photograph courtesy of the 'The Sedberghian'
Photo of Henry Archer Johnstone
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstones. Photograph Rachel Farrand (April 2026)
Photo of Henry Archer Johnstone
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone (Wm & Henry). Photograph Rachel Farrand (April 2026)
Photo of Henry Archer Johnstone
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstone (John Gordon). Photograph Rachel Farrand (April 2026)
Photo of Henry Archer Johnstone
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave/headstones. Photograph Rachel Farrand (April 2026)