Henry Halcro Johnston
Encyclopedia
Colonel Henry Halcro Johnston, C.B.
, C.B.E., D.L.
, D.Sc.
, M.D.C.M.
, F.R.S.F., F.L.S. (September 13, 1856 - October 18, 1939) was a rugby union
international who as a member of Edinburgh University RFC
, represented Scotland
in 1877 and who went on to make a significant contribution to botany and horticulture hrough his meticulous collection and recording of plant species during and after his distinguished military career.
, followed by the Collegiate School of Edinburgh, and finally at the University of Edinburgh
, where he graduated M.B., C.M. in 1880. He proceeded M.D. in 1893 and in the same year took the B.Sc., proceeding D.Sc. (Public Health) in 1894.
(with the Suakin 1885 clasp) and Khedive's Star. He went on to serve on the North-West Frontier
of India, from 1897 to 1898, where he was in charge of British No. I Field Hospital, and was active in operations in the Malakand
, in Bajaur, in the Mahmund country, and in Buner, including the action at Laudakai and the attack and capture of the Tanga Pass. He was mentioned in dispatches
on April 22, 1898, and received the India Medal
with the Punjab Frontier 1897-98 clasp. He then served in the Second Boer War
in South Africa
, from 1899 to 1902, and was active in operations in Natal. He was mentioned in dispatches, on February 2, 1901, and on July 29, 1902. He received the Queen's South Africa Medal
with clasp (which may have been the Natal state clasp or a battle specific clasp) and also the King's South Africa Medal
with both the South Africa 1901 clasp and the South Africa 1902 clasp. For his services he was made a Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
, abbreviated in postnominal letters to C.B.
He attained the rank of colonel on February 16, 1911, and retired on September 13, 1913. However, after his retirement he rejoined for service in the First World War, when he served as Assistant Director of Medical Services at Glasgow and at York, and as Deputy Director of Medical Services at Gibraltar. He received the C.B.E. for his services.
, in his native Orkney, where he was a deputy lieutenant
of the county. He was unmarried.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, C.B.E., D.L.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, D.Sc.
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
, M.D.C.M.
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, F.R.S.F., F.L.S. (September 13, 1856 - October 18, 1939) was a rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
international who as a member of Edinburgh University RFC
Edinburgh University RFC
Edinburgh University Rugby Football Club is a leading rugby union side based in Edinburgh, Scotland which currently plays its fixtures in the top Scottish National League and the British Universities Premiership. It is one of the eight founder members of the Scottish Rugby Union...
, represented Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
in 1877 and who went on to make a significant contribution to botany and horticulture hrough his meticulous collection and recording of plant species during and after his distinguished military career.
Early life
Henry Halcro Johnston was born at Orphir House, Orkney, on September 13, 1856, the fifth son of James Johnston, eleventh Laird of Coubister, Orkney, and was educated at Dollar AcademyDollar Academy
Dollar Academy was founded in 1818, which makes it the oldest co-educational day and boarding school in the world. The open campus occupies a site in the centre of the thriving town of Dollar in Central Scotland, less than 40 minutes drive from the two main Scottish cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh...
, followed by the Collegiate School of Edinburgh, and finally at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where he graduated M.B., C.M. in 1880. He proceeded M.D. in 1893 and in the same year took the B.Sc., proceeding D.Sc. (Public Health) in 1894.
Career
Having qualified as a doctor, Johnston entered the army as a surgeon on July 30, 1881. His war service included Sudan, in 1885, at Suakin, for which he received the Egypt MedalEgypt Medal
The Egypt Medal 1882-1889 was awarded for the military actions involving the British Army during the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War. The war become due to the British involvement in Egypt deepened after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and foreign armies mutinied and triggered an anti-European...
(with the Suakin 1885 clasp) and Khedive's Star. He went on to serve on the North-West Frontier
North-West Frontier (military history)
The North-West Frontier was the most difficult area, from a military point of view, of the former British India in the Indian sub-continent. It remains the frontier of present-day Pakistan, extending from the Pamir Knot in the north to the Koh-i-Malik Siah in the west, and separating the...
of India, from 1897 to 1898, where he was in charge of British No. I Field Hospital, and was active in operations in the Malakand
Siege of Malakand
The Siege of Malakand was the 26 July – 2 August 1897 siege of the British garrison in the Malakand region of colonial British India's North West Frontier Province...
, in Bajaur, in the Mahmund country, and in Buner, including the action at Laudakai and the attack and capture of the Tanga Pass. He was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
on April 22, 1898, and received the India Medal
India Medal
The India Medal was a campaign medal approved in 1896 for issue to officers and men of the British and Indian armies.The India Medal was awarded for various minor military campaigns in India, chiefly for service on the North-West Frontier during 1895 to 1902. This medal replaced the India General...
with the Punjab Frontier 1897-98 clasp. He then served in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, from 1899 to 1902, and was active in operations in Natal. He was mentioned in dispatches, on February 2, 1901, and on July 29, 1902. He received the Queen's South Africa Medal
Queen's South Africa Medal
The Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to military personnel who served in the Boer War in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Units from the British Army, Royal Navy, colonial forces who took part , civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents...
with clasp (which may have been the Natal state clasp or a battle specific clasp) and also the King's South Africa Medal
King's South Africa Medal
The King's South Africa Medal was awarded to all troops who served in the Boer War in South Africa on or after 1 January 1902, and completed 18 months service before 1 June 1902. The medal was not issued alone but always with the Queen's South Africa Medal or QSA.The KSA was awarded only to those...
with both the South Africa 1901 clasp and the South Africa 1902 clasp. For his services he was made a Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, abbreviated in postnominal letters to C.B.
He attained the rank of colonel on February 16, 1911, and retired on September 13, 1913. However, after his retirement he rejoined for service in the First World War, when he served as Assistant Director of Medical Services at Glasgow and at York, and as Deputy Director of Medical Services at Gibraltar. He received the C.B.E. for his services.
Rugby union
Johnston was a noted rugby footballer. He played for his school and university and was selected to play as full-back for Scotland against both Ireland and England in 1877. In these matches, he was recorded as being an Edinburgh Collegiate player. After joining Edinburgh University he did not again receive an international cap, but for three years he played as a forward in the Edinburgh University fifteen.Contribution to science
He was the author of numerous contributions to scientific journals. His work was based around the plants he had collected in Afghanistan, Mauritius, Canaries, Madeira, Egypt, Gambia, Natal, India, and Sierra Leone. He then collected in the Orkney Islands from 1919. He contributions were particularly focussed on the flora of Mauritius and Orkney and Shetland Islands and made in the Transactions of the botanical Society, Edinburgh.Publications
Among his many publications and contributions were the following:- Report on the flora of Round island, Mauritius, Botanical Society, 1894
- Report on the flora of the outlying islands in Mahébourg bay, Mauritius, 1895
- Reports on the flora of Île des Aigrettes and Les Bénitiers, Mauritius, 1894
Personal and later life
After retirement he settled at OrphirOrphir
Orphir is a parish and settlement in Mainland, Orkney. It is averagely southwest of Kirkwall, and comprehends a seaboard tract of about 7 by 3½ miles , and includes Cava and the Holm of Houton...
, in his native Orkney, where he was a deputy lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of the county. He was unmarried.