A Collection of Boer War Medals to the Royal Artillery

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Paardeberg, Johannesburg (Major F. B. Johnstone, D.S.O., R.F.A.) clasp backstraps removed and fixed side-carriages for mounting purposes, otherwise very fine £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Boer War Medals to the Royal Artillery.

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Francis Buchanan Johnstone, who was born in February 1863, was commissioned in the Royal Artillery in February 1882, and was serving as a Major and Divisional Adjutant, R.A. by the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa.

Quickly embarked for that theatre of war, he participated in the actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein and, following the relief of Kimberley, the operations in Orange Free State (February to May 1900), including Paardeberg (17-26 February); so, too, in the actions at Poplar Grove, Karee Siding, Vet River (5-6 May) and Zand River, and the operations in the Transvaal (May to June), including the actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria. He was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 10 September 1901) and awarded the D.S.O. ‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa’ (London Gazette 27 September 1901 refers), which insignia he received from the King on 29 October 1901.

Johnstone, who was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1908 and to Colonel in October 1911, commanded R.A. Lowland Division, Scottish Command from April 1913, prior to taking command of the R.A. 52nd Division in the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force until December 1915. Next appointed a Brigadier-General of R.A. 12 Corps, in which capacity he served in the Mediterranean theatre of war until February 1916. Having then been wounded in the Balkan operations, he returned to the U.K. later that year, and subsequently served as C.O. of R.A. 72nd Division, Home Defences from November 1916 until March 1918.