Banner Johnstone
Encyclopedia
Banner Carruthers Johnstone (11 November 1882 – 20 June 1964) was a British
rower
who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics
.
Johnstone was born in Bebington
, then in Cheshire
and educated at Eton
, where he was captain of the boats, and at Trinity College, Cambridge
. At Cambridge he rowed in the head of the river four times and won the pairs, fours, and double scull
s. He rowed for Cambridge
in the Boat Race in 1904, 1905, 1906 and 1907, being in the winning crew three times he was once President of the C.U.B.C.
After Cambridge Johnstone joined Leander Club
At Henley Royal Regatta
he won Silver Goblets in 1906 and 1907 with R V Powell and 1909 with Edward Gordon Williams. He twice beat Julius Beresford
and Karl Vernon
. He also competed in the Grand Challenge Cup
in a series of contests with the Belgian Royal Club Nautique de Gand
, being twice on the winning side. In 1908 he was a crew member of the Leander eight
, which won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics
.
In 1909 Johnstone joined the Ceylon Government Surveys and in 1913 joined the Colonial Civil Service in Zanzibar
. At the start of World War I
he was in the Transport Corps in East Africa, but went to France in 1917 with the 1st Black Watch
and 1st Infantry Brigade. He was awarded the OBE for services in France and Belgium.
For many years Johnstone was the rowing correspondent for the Daily Telegraph.
Johnstone died in Bournemouth
at the age of 81.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
rower
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
who competed in the 1908 Summer Olympics
1908 Summer Olympics
The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in 1908 in London, England, United Kingdom. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time they were the fifth modern Olympic games...
.
Johnstone was born in Bebington
Bebington
Bebington is a small town and electoral ward within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It lies south of Liverpool and west southwest of Manchester, along the River Mersey on the eastern side of the Wirral Peninsula...
, then in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
and educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
, where he was captain of the boats, and at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. At Cambridge he rowed in the head of the river four times and won the pairs, fours, and double scull
Double scull
A double scull is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two persons who propel the boat by sculling with two oars, one in each hand....
s. He rowed for Cambridge
Cambridge University Boat Club
The Cambridge University Boat Club is the rowing club of the University of Cambridge, England, located on the River Cam at Cambridge, although training primarily takes place on the River Great Ouse at Ely. The club was founded in 1828...
in the Boat Race in 1904, 1905, 1906 and 1907, being in the winning crew three times he was once President of the C.U.B.C.
After Cambridge Johnstone joined Leander Club
Leander Club
Leander Club, founded in 1818, is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world. It is based in Remenham in the English county of Berkshire, adjoining Henley-on-Thames...
At Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta
Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held every year on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage...
he won Silver Goblets in 1906 and 1907 with R V Powell and 1909 with Edward Gordon Williams. He twice beat Julius Beresford
Julius Beresford
Julius Beresford , also known as Berry or The Old Berry, was a British rower and coach who competed at the 1912 Summer Olympics.-Life:...
and Karl Vernon
Karl Vernon
Karl Vernon , sometimes known by his nickname The Bean was a British rower and coach who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics.-Life:Vernon was born in Neuenahr, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany...
. He also competed in the Grand Challenge Cup
Grand Challenge Cup
The Grand Challenge Cup is a rowing competition for men's eights. It is the oldest and most prestigious event at the annual Henley Royal Regatta on the River Thames at Henley-on-Thames in England. It is open to male crews from all eligible rowing clubs...
in a series of contests with the Belgian Royal Club Nautique de Gand
Royal Club Nautique de Gand
Royal Club Nautique de Gand...
, being twice on the winning side. In 1908 he was a crew member of the Leander eight
Eight (rowing)
An Eight is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for eight rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars, and is steered by a coxswain, or cox....
, which won the gold medal for Great Britain rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics
At the 1908 Summer Olympics, four rowing events were contested, all for men only. Races were held at Henley-on-Thames. The competitions were held from July 28, 1908 to July 31, 1908. There was one fewer event in 1908 than 1904, after the double sculls was dropped from the programme...
.
In 1909 Johnstone joined the Ceylon Government Surveys and in 1913 joined the Colonial Civil Service in Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
. At the start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
he was in the Transport Corps in East Africa, but went to France in 1917 with the 1st Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
and 1st Infantry Brigade. He was awarded the OBE for services in France and Belgium.
For many years Johnstone was the rowing correspondent for the Daily Telegraph.
Johnstone died in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
at the age of 81.