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{{Short description|English cricketer and British Army officer (1884–1952)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox cricketer
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Alexander Johnston
| name = Alexander Johnston
| image =
| image =
| country = England
| country = England
| fullname =
| fullname = Alexander Colin Johnston
| nickname =
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1884|1|26}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1884|1|26}}
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| batting = Right-handed
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = [[Leg break]]
| bowling = [[Leg break]]
| role = Occasional [[wicketkeeper]]
| role =
| family = [[Duncan Johnston]] (Father)
| family = [[Duncan Johnston]] (father)
| club1 = [[Marylebone Cricket Club]]
| club2 = [[Marylebone Cricket Club]]
| year1 = 1911 & 1920
| year2 = 1911–1920
| club1 = [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]]
| clubnumber1 =
| club2 = [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]]
| year1 = 1902–1919
| year2 = 1902–1914 & 1919
| clubnumber2 =
| deliveries = balls
| columns = 1
| columns = 1
| column1 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| column1 = [[First-class cricket|First-class]]
| matches1 = 116
| matches1 = 116
| runs1 = 5,966
| runs1 = 5,966
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}}
}}


'''Alexander Colin Johnston''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DSO1|MC}} (26 January 1884 – 27 December 1952) was an English first-class [[cricket]]er and an officer in the [[British Army]]. Johnston graduated from the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst|Royal Military College at Sandhurst]] and entered into the [[Worcestershire Regiment]]. Following a three years secondment to the [[Northern Nigeria Regiment]], he returned to England and received a further secondment to the [[Royal Corps of Signals|Army Signal Service]]. He served throughout the [[First World War]] with distinction, commanding the 10th Battalion of the [[Cheshire Regiment]] and later the [[126th (East Lancashire) Brigade|126th Infantry Brigade]]; the latter command made him the youngest [[General (British Army)|general]] in the British Army. He was wounded several times during the war and received awards for gallantry, most notably the [[Distinguished Service Order]] with [[medal bar]] and the [[Military Cross]]. His military service continued after the war, albeit in a non-combat role due to his war injuries. Heavily involved in army education, Johnston retired in 1937, but came out of retirement during the [[Second World War]] to serve with the [[Political Intelligence Department (1939–1943)|Political Intelligence Department]] of the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign Office]].
[[Brigadier General#United Kingdom|Brigadier General]] '''Alexander Colin Johnston''' [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] [[Medal bar|& Bar]], [[Military Cross|MC]] (26 January 1884 – 27 December 1952) was an [[English people|English]] [[cricketer]] and [[British Army]] officer. Johnston was a right-handed [[batsman (cricket)|batsman]] who was a [[leg break]] bowler. Johnston also occasionally played as a [[wicketkeeper]].

As a [[first-class cricket]]er, Johnston was mostly associated with [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]], for whom he played cricket in the [[County Championship]] between 1902 and 1919. A prolific batsman before the First World War, he placed second in the national batting averages in 1912, behind [[C. B. Fry]] and narrowly missed out on playing [[Test cricket]] that year for [[England cricket team|England]]. Johnston played 108 first-class matches for Hampshire, scoring 5,442 runs and making ten centuries. He also played at first-class level for the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]], [[Gentlemen v Players|Gentlemen]], and the [[British Army cricket team]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
The son of the Scottish cricketer and [[Royal Engineers]] officer [[Duncan Johnston]], he was born in [[Derby]] in January 1884. Johnston was educated at [[Winchester College]], where he represented the college cricket team as an [[Batting_order_(cricket)#Opening_batters|opening batsman]] and [[leg break]] bowler.<ref name="BOOK">{{cite book |title=Winchester College, 1836–1906: A Register|last1=Dauglish|first1=M. G.|last2=Wainewright|first2=John Bannerman|publisher=P. and G. Wells|location=[[Winchester]]|year=1907|page=577|url=https://archive.org/details/winchestercolleg00wincuoft|language=en}}</ref><ref name="WIS">{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228425.html|title=Wisden - Obituaries in 1952|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=20 August 2024}}</ref> There in his second match against [[Eton College]], he dismissed eight Eton batsmen for 56 runs.<ref name="WIS"/> During his time at Winchester, he broke several college batting records.{{sfnp|Sandford|2014|p=19}} He also played [[association football]] and [[Rackets (sport)|rackets]] at Winchester.<ref name="TIMES">{{cite news|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS136662942/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-TTDA&xid=69d7b769|title=Col. A. C. Johnston|work=[[The Times]]|location=[[London]]|page=8|issue=52506|date=30 December 1952|access-date=20 August 2024|url-access=subscription|via=[[Gale (publisher)|Gale]]}}</ref>
Johnston was educated at [[Winchester College]], where he represented the college cricket team. From there Johnston went to [[Sandhurst Military Academy|Sandhurst]] and he also spent a year as a cowboy in [[Colorado]] and [[New Mexico]] before being commissioned into the [[Worcestershire Regiment]] on 4 November 1903.


==First-class cricket career==
==Military career==
===Early career===
Johnston made his [[first-class cricket|first-class]] debut for [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]] in the 1902 [[County Championship]] against [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]]. Johnston played 107 matches for Hampshire before the [[First World War]], with Johnston's most successful seasons with the bat coming in 1910 when he scored 1,158 runs at a [[batting average]] of 36.18, with seven half centuries and a single century score of 130; and in 1,044 runs at an average of 54.94 and a career high score of 175 against [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]].
From Winchester, he proceeded to the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst|Royal Military College at Sandhurst]], which he graduated from as a [[Second_lieutenant#United_Kingdom_and_other_Commonwealth_countries|second lieutenant]] in November 1903;<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27611|date=3 November 1903|page=6697}}</ref> prior to taking up an appointment with the [[Worcestershire Regiment]], he spent a year in [[Colorado]] and [[New Mexico]] as a [[cowboy]].<ref name="WIS"/> He was promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] in June 1907,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28047|date=2 August 1907|page=5298}}</ref> the same year in which he was seconded to the [[Northern Nigeria Regiment]] for three years, which formed part of the [[Royal West African Frontier Force|West African Frontier Force]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28019|date=7 May 1907|page=3083}}</ref> Whilst serving in Nigeria, he played [[polo]] for Western Nigeria.<ref name="WIS"/> After the end of his secondment in October 1910, Johnston returned to the Worcestershire Regiment.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28426|date=21 October 1910|page=7436}}</ref> Just under two years later in August 1912, he was seconded to the [[Royal Corps of Signals|Army Signal Service]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28649|date=1 October 1912|page=7194}}</ref>


⚫
===WWI service===
In addition to representing Hampshire before the war, Johnston also played for the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] in two pre-war first-class matches against [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire]] and [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club|Leicestershire]], both matches coming in 1911. Also in 1911, Johnston played a single match for the Gentlemen in the 1911 [[Gentlemen v Players]] fixture, representing them once more in the 1912 fixture.
With the outbreak of the [[First World War]] on 28 July 1914, Johnston travelled with the Worcestershire Regiment to the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] as part of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] in the opening days of the war.{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=4}} He saw action in the allied defeats at the [[Battle of Mons|Mons]] and [[Battle of Le Cateau|Le Cateau]] in August,{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=4}} while in September he fought in the indecisive [[First Battle of the Aisne]].{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=31}} In that same month he gained promotion to [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]].<ref name="TIMES"/><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28944|date=16 October 1914|page=8363|supp=y}}</ref> He was awarded the [[Military Cross]] in February 1915 for actions at [[Soissons]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29074|date=16 February 1915|page=1693|supp=y}}</ref>{{sfnp|Sandford|2014|p=19}} Johnston was seconded to the [[25th Division (United Kingdom)|25th Division]] as a [[Staff (military)|General Staff Officer]], 3rd Grade in January 1916, an appointment which disappointed him;{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=1}} however, his appointment to the 25th proved beneficial, as he gained the rank of [[Brevet_(military)#United_Kingdom|brevet]] [[Major (United Kingdom)|major]] in February – a coveted junior position – an appointment which he took up in March.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29466|date=4 February 1916|page=1468|supp=y}}</ref> Johnston was active in the [[Tunnel_warfare#World_War_I|mining operations]] around the [[Vimy|Vimy Ridge]] during 1916 and took part in the [[Battle of the Somme]] which lasted from July to November 1916.{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=2}} During the Battle of the Somme, he was placed in command of the 10th Battalion, [[Cheshire Regiment]], who needed careful leadership to bring them up to fighting efficiency. His skill in command was noted by the battalion's success at the end of the offensive and subsequent [[Battle of Messines (1917)|Battle of Messines]] in 1917.{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=2}}


In December 1916, Johnston was decorated by France with the [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|croix de guerre]],<ref>{{London Gazette|city=Edinburgh|issue=13022|date=12 December 1916|page=2280}}</ref> while in the June [[1917 Birthday Honours]] he was made a Companion of the [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO) for his efforts at the Somme.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30111|date=1 June 1917|page=5471|supp=y}}</ref><ref name="TCRIC">{{cite web|url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/features/letters_home__cricketers_correspondence_from_the_battlefields.html|title=Letters home: Cricketers' correspondence from the battlefields|first=David|last=Frith|website=www.thecricketer.com|date=10 November 1918|access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> The following month he took part in the [[Battle of Passchendaele]] with the 10th, where his strong leadership of the battalion was rewarded shortly after the battle, when he was placed in command of the [[126th (East Lancashire) Brigade|126th Infantry Brigade]] and assumed the temporary rank of [[Brigadier_(United_Kingdom)#Historical_rank_of_brigadier-general|brigadier-general]],{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=2}} becoming the youngest [[General (United Kingdom)|general]] in the [[British Army]].<ref name="TCRIC"/> However, just two days after assuming command, Johnston was seriously wounded in action when he was shot by an enemy sniper; it was the fourth time he had been wounded in the war.{{sfnp|Davies|Maddocks|1995|p=155}} His wounds were so serious that there seemed to be little hope for his survival, but through the care of [[Agnes Keyser]] at the [[King Edward VII's Hospital]], he was able to recover,{{sfnp|The Cricketer|1953}} albeit with one leg four inches shorter the other.<ref name="TCRIC"/> He subsequently sat out the remainder of the war recuperating in England.{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=2}} Whilst recuperating, he was awarded a [[medal bar]] to his DSO in December 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30450|date=28 December 1917|page=17|supp=y}}</ref> gained through his efforts at Passchendaele.<ref name="TCRIC"/> One week before the end of the war, he was promoted to the full rank of major.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31018|date=15 November 1918|page=13585|supp=y}}</ref> Johnston served with distinction during the course of the war, being mentioned in despatches on five occasions.<ref name="WIS"/>
In 1914, the season which was cut short due to the [[First World War]], Johnston played a single match for the [[British Army cricket team|Army]] against the [[Royal Navy cricket team|Royal Navy]]. Johnston's final first-class match for Hampshire before the war came against Surrey at the [[United Services Recreation Ground]] in [[Portsmouth]].


===Later career===
⚫
==First World War service==
Johnston was made a temporary [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant colonel]] in January 1919.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31115|date=7 January 1919|page=480|supp=y}}</ref> By July 1919 he had recovered from his wounds, when he returned to service and travelled to the [[Occupation of the Rhineland|occupied Rhineland]] later in 1919.{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=2}} After the war, he held a number of important appointments in connection with education in the [[British Army]],<ref name="TIMES"/> with his war-wounds having rendered him unfit for service on an active basis,{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=2}} in addition to leaving him with a permanent limp.<ref name="WIS"/> He gained the full rank of lieutenant colonel in January 1921,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32177|date=31 December 1920|page=12810|supp=y}}</ref> and in the same year he was appointed commandant at the [[Duke of York's Royal Military School]] in [[Kent]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32219|date=4 February 1921|page=1043|supp=y}}</ref>{{sfnp|Davies|Maddocks|1995|p=155}} an appointment he held until 1925.{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=3}}<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33071|date=31 July 1925|page=5134}}</ref> Johnston was appointed chief education officer at Sandhurst in August 1927,{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=3}}<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33309|date=6 September 1927|page=5734}}</ref> a post which he held until August 1929.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33530|date=30 August 1929|page=5643}}</ref>
Johnston fought in the First World War, serving on the frontlines of the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] with the original [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|Expeditionary Force]], being wounded four times and rising to the rank of [[Brigadier General#United Kingdom|Brigadier General]]. Initially Johnston served as signals officer for 7 Infantry Brigade. He went on to serve in that capacity with 3rd Division before becoming, in turn, [[Brigade Major]], Commanding Officer 10th Battalion [[Cheshire Regiment]] and finally Officer Commanding 126 Infantry Brigade.


After promotion to brevet [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]] in January 1931,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33676|date=2 January 1931|page=60}}</ref> Johnston served in [[British India]] with the [[Army Education Corps (India)|Army Educational Corps]].{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=3}} There, he was inspector and commandant of the Army School of Education in [[Belgaum]] for six years from December 1931 to until his retirement in 1937.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33884|date=18 November 1932|page=7344}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33805|date=4 March 1932|page=1502}}</ref><ref name="TIMES"/> He was placed on the [[half-pay]] list upon his retirement.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34408|date=15 June 1937|page=3857}}</ref> Johnston returned to military service during the [[Second World War]], in which he held several [[Staff (military)|staff]] posts, including as a staff officer in air defence at the [[Aldershot Command]],<ref name="TIMES"/> before joining the [[Political Intelligence Department (1939–1943)|Political Intelligence Department]] of the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign Office]]. In its service, he returned to India as head of the Foreign Office Mission there.{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=3}} He would serve as an assistant commissioner in HM Forces' Saving Committee between 1945 and 1948,{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=3}} with his duties taking him to Italy and [[Allied-occupied Austria]] following the conclusion of the war.<ref name="TIMES"/>
Johnston took part in the engagements at [[Battle of Mons|Mons]], [[Battle of Le Cateau|Le Cateau]] and the subsequent retreat and advance to the [[Aisne]].


==First-class cricket==
In 1916 whilst commanding the 10th Battalion Cheshire Regiment he was award the [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO) for his actions at the [[Battle of the Somme]]. A year later in 1917 he was to be awarded a [[Medal bar|bar]] to his DSO for his actions at [[Battle of Passchendaele|Ypres]]. During the course of the war he was [[Mentioned in Despatches]] no less than five times and in 1916 was awarded the French [[Croix de guerre]]. Johnston wrote a diary chronicling his activities in the war.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Astill|first1=Edwin|title=The Great War Diaries of Brigadier Alexander Johnston : 1914-1917|year=2007|publisher=Pen and Sword Books|isbn=9781844155811}}</ref>
Johnston made his debut in [[first-class cricket]] for [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]] against [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] at [[County Ground, Southampton|Southampton]] in the [[1902 County Championship]], whilst still a cadet at Sandhurst. He played six first-class matches that season, including against the touring [[Australia national cricket team|Australians]].<ref name="FCM">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6691/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Alexander Johnston|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=22 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Eight further appearances followed in 1903,<ref name="FCM"/> with Johnston recording his first half century (59 runs) against [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/6/6317.html|title=Hampshire v Warwickshire, County Championship 1903|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=22 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> He scored his maiden [[century (cricket)|century]] (105) the following year, in his first match of the season against [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club|Worcestershire]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/6/6467.html|title=Hampshire v Worcestershire, County Championship 1904|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=22 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> and followed this up later in the season with 108 against [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club|Leicestershire]];<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/6/6582.html|title=Hampshire v Leicestershire, County Championship 1904|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=22 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> his nine matches in 1904, including one for the [[Gentlemen of England]] against the [[Players of the South]] at the [[Bournemouth Cricket Week]], yielded him 425 runs at an [[batting average (cricket)|average]] of 30.35.<ref name="FCBAS">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6691/f_Batting_by_Season.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Alexander Johnston|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=22 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Although his average dropped to 18.23 from seven matches in 1905,<ref name="FCBAS"/> Johnston returned to form in the 1906 season. His twelve first-class matches that season saw him score 903 runs at an average of 39.26, with two centuries.<ref name="FCBAS"/> With his secondment to West Africa, between 1906 and 1910, he played just one season whilst on summer leave in 1908. In that season, he scored 733 runs at an average of 25.27, making one century.<ref name="FCBAS"/>


His first season back from his secondment was to be his most successful in terms of runs, with Johnston scoring 1,158 runs at an average of 36.18 from 21 matches,<ref name="FCBAS"/> with seven half centuries and a single century (130) against Worcestershire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/8/8157.html|title=Worcestershire v Hampshire, County Championship 1910|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=25 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1911, he made six appearances for Hampshire, averaging 41.22.{{sfnp|The Cricketer|1953}} In that same season, he played twice for the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] (MCC) and played for the Gentlemen in the [[Gentlemen v Players]] at [[The Oval]];<ref name="FCM"/> in that fixture, he played what [[Plum Warner]] described as a "splendid [[Innings#Usage_in_cricket|innings]]" when he made 82 in the Gentlemen's second innings.{{sfnp|The Cricketer|1953}} In the [[1912 County Championship]], he played twelve matches for Hampshire, in addition to playing once again the Gentlemen v Players fixture.<ref name="FCM"/> He passed a thousand first-class runs for the second and last time in 1912, scoring 1,044 runs at an average of 54.94 from fourteen matches.<ref name="FCBAS"/> He was second in the national batting averages, sandwiched between teammates [[C. B. Fry]], who led the averages, and [[Phil Mead]].{{sfnp|The Cricketer|1953}} His highest first-class score of 175 came against Warwickshire that season, with Johnston having shared in a stand of 250 for the second wicket with Mead (111).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/8/8741.html|title=Warwickshire v Hampshire, County Championship 1912|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=25 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> His performance in that season's Gentlemen v Players match also garnered praise from Warner, who noted that in making 89 in the Gentlemen's first innings, he had stood up to the bowling of [[Sydney Barnes]] on a difficult [[Lord's]] [[Pitch (cricket)|wicket]].{{sfnp|The Cricketer|1953}} Following this performance, he narrowly missed out on [[Test cricket|Test]] selection for [[England cricket team|England]]'s match against [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] in the [[1912 Triangular Tournament|Triangular Tournament]], with the selection committee being unable to contact him in time for the match.{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=3}} During the 1914 season, which was cut short by the outbreak of the First World War, Johnston made three appearances for Hampshire in the [[1914 County Championship|County Championship]], having played earlier in the season for the [[British Army cricket team]] against the [[Royal Navy cricket team|Royal Navy]] at Lord's.<ref name="FCM"/>
==Post-First World War activities==
Johnston returned from the First World War with a permanent limp, though he continued his activities as a soldier and sportsman. In 1919 Johnston played his final match for Hampshire against [[Gloucestershire County Cricket Club|Gloucestershire]]. In his first-class career for Hampshire, Johnston scored 5,442 runs at an average of 30.74, with 27 half centuries, 10 centuries and a high score of 175. Johnston was also a part-time leg break bowler, taking 18 wickets at a [[bowling average]] of 44.72, with best figures of 4/21. In the field Johnston took 57 [[catch (cricket)|catches]] and made a single [[stumping]].


Despite his wartime injuries, Johnston returned continued to play at first-class level, though he now required a [[Runner (cricket)|runner]];<ref name="TCRIC"/>{{sfnp|The Cricketer|1953}} controversially, the cricketing authorities decided not to allow him to play with a runner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.utilitabowl.com/cricket/news/hampshire-cricket-remembers-on-armistice-centenary/|title=Hampshire Cricket Remembers On Armistice Centenary|website=www.utilitabowl.com|date=10 November 2018|access-date=25 August 2024}}</ref> He played just once for Hampshire following the war, in the [[1919 County Championship]] against [[Gloucestershire County Cricket Club|Gloucestershire]].<ref name="FCM"/> Two final first-class matches followed in 1920, for the MCC against the British Army, and for the [[Gentlemen of England]] against the [[Combined Services cricket team|Combined Services]].<ref name="FCM"/> In 108 first-class matches for Hampshire, he scored 5,442 runs at an average of 30.74, making ten centuries, alongside 27 half centuries.<ref name="FCBAT">{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6691/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Alexander Johnston|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=25 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Described by Warner as being of "England class", he further described Johnston as "a very fine batsman with a beautiful method of play".{{sfnp|The Cricketer|1953}} A part-time leg break bowler, he took 18 wickets, all for Hampshire, at an [[bowling average|average]] of 44.72.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6691/f_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Alexander Johnston|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=25 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Warner further described Johnston as a "great [[fielding (cricket)|fieldsman]]",{{sfnp|The Cricketer|1953}} with him typically fielding long and taking 57 [[catch (cricket)|catches]] for Hampshire.<ref name="FCBAT"/> Following the end of his first-class career, Johnston continued to play minor cricket matches on tours aboard, playing the [[Netherlands national cricket team|Netherlands]] with the [[Free Foresters Cricket Club|Free Foresters]] and MCC, whilst also visiting Egypt with [[Hubert Martineau|Hubert Martineau's]] personal team.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6691/Miscellaneous_Matches.html|title=Miscellaneous Matches played by Alexander Johnston|publisher=CricketArchive|access-date=25 August 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref>
In 1920 Johnston played his second and final first-class match for the Marylebone Cricket Club against the Army and the same season he played his final first-class match for the [[Gentlemen of England]] against the [[Combined Services cricket team|Combined Services]]. In his combined first-class career Johnston played 116 matches, scoring 5,966 runs at an average of 30.91, with 31 half centuries, 10 centuries and a high score of 175. All of Johnston's first-class wickets came while he was playing for Hampshire.


==Personal life and death==
Johnston continued to play cricket, although in a non first-class capacity, playing the [[Netherlands national cricket team|Netherlands]] on tours to the county with the [[Free Foresters Cricket Club|Free Foresters]] and the Marylebone Cricket Club. In 1929/30 Johnston toured [[Egypt]] with HM Martineau's XI, where he played matches against the [[Egypt national cricket team]]. Johnston's playing career came to an end with the Free Foresters tour of the Netherlands in 1933.
Johnston was associated with the [[scouting|scouts]] movement in the United Kingdom and was an organiser for the [[World Scout Moot|3rd World Rover Moot]] in 1939.{{sfnp|Astill|2007|p=3}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19521227/302/0016|title=Announcements|work=[[The News (Portsmouth)|Portsmouth Evening News]]|page=16|date=27 December 1952|access-date=25 August 2024|url-access=subscription|via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> Johnston died suddenly on 27 December 1952 at his residence in [[Knaphill|Knaphill, Surrey]].<ref name="WIS"/> He was survived by his wife, Esme, whom he had married in 1912, and their two daughters.<ref name="TIMES"/>

As well as playing cricket, Johnston played for the [[Army Football Association|Army]] at [[Association football]] and [[hockey]] and played [[polo]] for Western [[Nigeria]].<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228425.html Johnston's Widen Obituary]</ref>

Johnston died at [[Knaphill]], [[Surrey]] on 27 December 1952.

==Family==
Johnston's father Sir [[Duncan Johnston]] was born at [[Edinburgh]] in 1847, was a [[Royal Engineers]] officer who became Director General of the [[Ordnance Survey]]. He also played first-class cricket for [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]] during the 1882 season. His father was also of the [[British Association]].


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

==Works cited==
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=efvLDwAAQBAJ|title=The Great War Diaries of Brigadier General Alexander Johnston, 1914–1917|first=Edwin|last=Astill|publisher=[[Pen and Sword Books]]|location=[[Barnsley]]|year=2007|isbn=9781781594506|language=en}}
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bloodyredtabsgen0000davi|title=Bloody Red Tabs: General Officer Casualties of the Great War 1914-1918|first1=Frank|last1=Davies|first2=Graham|last2=Maddocks|publisher=[[Leo Cooper (publisher)|Leo Cooper]]|location=[[London]]|year=1995|isbn=0850524636|language=en|via=[[Internet Archive]]}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=55nwAwAAQBAJ|title=The Final Over: The Cricketers of Summer 1914|first=Christopher|last=Sandford|author-link=Christopher Sandford (biographer)|publisher=[[The History Press]]|location=[[Cheltenham]]|year=2014|isbn=9780750961981|language=en}}
*{{cite magazine|url=https://magazine.cricketarchive.com/Magazine/1953/spring_annual_1953/files/mobile/index.html#91|title=Obituaries|magazine=[[The Cricketer]]|location=London|year=1953|edition=Spring|language=en|ref={{sfnref|The Cricketer|1953}} }}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{cricinfo|id=15523}}
*[http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/15523.html Alexander Johnston] at [[Cricinfo]]

*[http://www.cricketarchive.com/Hampshire/Players/6/6691/6691.html Alexander Johnston] at [[CricketArchive]]
{{Authority control}}
*[http://www.cricketarchive.com/Hampshire/Players/6/6691/statistics_lists.html Matches and detailed statistics for Alexander Johnston]


{{Persondata
| NAME =Johnston, Alexander
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =British soldier and cricketer
| DATE OF BIRTH =26 January 1884
| PLACE OF BIRTH =[[Derby]], [[Derbyshire]]
| DATE OF DEATH =27 December 1952
| PLACE OF DEATH =[[Knaphill]], [[Surrey]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Alexander}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Alexander}}
[[Category:1884 births]]
[[Category:1884 births]]
[[Category:1952 deaths]]
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[[Category:People from Derby]]
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[[Category:British recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
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[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Foreign Office personnel of World War II]]

Latest revision as of 21:08, 17 November 2024

Alexander Johnston
Personal information
Full name
Alexander Colin Johnston
Born(1884-01-26)26 January 1884
Derby, Derbyshire, England
Died27 December 1952(1952-12-27) (aged 68)
Knaphill, Surrey, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingLeg break
RelationsDuncan Johnston (father)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1902–1919Hampshire
1911–1920Marylebone Cricket Club
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 116
Runs scored 5,966
Batting average 30.91
100s/50s 10/31
Top score 175
Balls bowled 910
Wickets 18
Bowling average 44.72
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 4/21
Catches/stumpings 58/1
Source: Cricinfo, 15 February 2010

Alexander Colin Johnston DSO & Bar MC (26 January 1884 – 27 December 1952) was an English first-class cricketer and an officer in the British Army. Johnston graduated from the Royal Military College at Sandhurst and entered into the Worcestershire Regiment. Following a three years secondment to the Northern Nigeria Regiment, he returned to England and received a further secondment to the Army Signal Service. He served throughout the First World War with distinction, commanding the 10th Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment and later the 126th Infantry Brigade; the latter command made him the youngest general in the British Army. He was wounded several times during the war and received awards for gallantry, most notably the Distinguished Service Order with medal bar and the Military Cross. His military service continued after the war, albeit in a non-combat role due to his war injuries. Heavily involved in army education, Johnston retired in 1937, but came out of retirement during the Second World War to serve with the Political Intelligence Department of the Foreign Office.

As a first-class cricketer, Johnston was mostly associated with Hampshire, for whom he played cricket in the County Championship between 1902 and 1919. A prolific batsman before the First World War, he placed second in the national batting averages in 1912, behind C. B. Fry and narrowly missed out on playing Test cricket that year for England. Johnston played 108 first-class matches for Hampshire, scoring 5,442 runs and making ten centuries. He also played at first-class level for the Marylebone Cricket Club, Gentlemen, and the British Army cricket team.

Early life

[edit]

The son of the Scottish cricketer and Royal Engineers officer Duncan Johnston, he was born in Derby in January 1884. Johnston was educated at Winchester College, where he represented the college cricket team as an opening batsman and leg break bowler.[1][2] There in his second match against Eton College, he dismissed eight Eton batsmen for 56 runs.[2] During his time at Winchester, he broke several college batting records.[3] He also played association football and rackets at Winchester.[4]

Military career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

From Winchester, he proceeded to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, which he graduated from as a second lieutenant in November 1903;[5] prior to taking up an appointment with the Worcestershire Regiment, he spent a year in Colorado and New Mexico as a cowboy.[2] He was promoted to lieutenant in June 1907,[6] the same year in which he was seconded to the Northern Nigeria Regiment for three years, which formed part of the West African Frontier Force.[7] Whilst serving in Nigeria, he played polo for Western Nigeria.[2] After the end of his secondment in October 1910, Johnston returned to the Worcestershire Regiment.[8] Just under two years later in August 1912, he was seconded to the Army Signal Service.[9]

WWI service

[edit]

With the outbreak of the First World War on 28 July 1914, Johnston travelled with the Worcestershire Regiment to the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force in the opening days of the war.[10] He saw action in the allied defeats at the Mons and Le Cateau in August,[10] while in September he fought in the indecisive First Battle of the Aisne.[11] In that same month he gained promotion to captain.[4][12] He was awarded the Military Cross in February 1915 for actions at Soissons.[13][3] Johnston was seconded to the 25th Division as a General Staff Officer, 3rd Grade in January 1916, an appointment which disappointed him;[14] however, his appointment to the 25th proved beneficial, as he gained the rank of brevet major in February – a coveted junior position – an appointment which he took up in March.[15] Johnston was active in the mining operations around the Vimy Ridge during 1916 and took part in the Battle of the Somme which lasted from July to November 1916.[16] During the Battle of the Somme, he was placed in command of the 10th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, who needed careful leadership to bring them up to fighting efficiency. His skill in command was noted by the battalion's success at the end of the offensive and subsequent Battle of Messines in 1917.[16]

In December 1916, Johnston was decorated by France with the croix de guerre,[17] while in the June 1917 Birthday Honours he was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his efforts at the Somme.[18][19] The following month he took part in the Battle of Passchendaele with the 10th, where his strong leadership of the battalion was rewarded shortly after the battle, when he was placed in command of the 126th Infantry Brigade and assumed the temporary rank of brigadier-general,[16] becoming the youngest general in the British Army.[19] However, just two days after assuming command, Johnston was seriously wounded in action when he was shot by an enemy sniper; it was the fourth time he had been wounded in the war.[20] His wounds were so serious that there seemed to be little hope for his survival, but through the care of Agnes Keyser at the King Edward VII's Hospital, he was able to recover,[21] albeit with one leg four inches shorter the other.[19] He subsequently sat out the remainder of the war recuperating in England.[16] Whilst recuperating, he was awarded a medal bar to his DSO in December 1917,[22] gained through his efforts at Passchendaele.[19] One week before the end of the war, he was promoted to the full rank of major.[23] Johnston served with distinction during the course of the war, being mentioned in despatches on five occasions.[2]

Later career

[edit]

Johnston was made a temporary lieutenant colonel in January 1919.[24] By July 1919 he had recovered from his wounds, when he returned to service and travelled to the occupied Rhineland later in 1919.[16] After the war, he held a number of important appointments in connection with education in the British Army,[4] with his war-wounds having rendered him unfit for service on an active basis,[16] in addition to leaving him with a permanent limp.[2] He gained the full rank of lieutenant colonel in January 1921,[25] and in the same year he was appointed commandant at the Duke of York's Royal Military School in Kent,[26][20] an appointment he held until 1925.[27][28] Johnston was appointed chief education officer at Sandhurst in August 1927,[27][29] a post which he held until August 1929.[30]

After promotion to brevet colonel in January 1931,[31] Johnston served in British India with the Army Educational Corps.[27] There, he was inspector and commandant of the Army School of Education in Belgaum for six years from December 1931 to until his retirement in 1937.[32][33][4] He was placed on the half-pay list upon his retirement.[34] Johnston returned to military service during the Second World War, in which he held several staff posts, including as a staff officer in air defence at the Aldershot Command,[4] before joining the Political Intelligence Department of the Foreign Office. In its service, he returned to India as head of the Foreign Office Mission there.[27] He would serve as an assistant commissioner in HM Forces' Saving Committee between 1945 and 1948,[27] with his duties taking him to Italy and Allied-occupied Austria following the conclusion of the war.[4]

First-class cricket

[edit]

Johnston made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Surrey at Southampton in the 1902 County Championship, whilst still a cadet at Sandhurst. He played six first-class matches that season, including against the touring Australians.[35] Eight further appearances followed in 1903,[35] with Johnston recording his first half century (59 runs) against Warwickshire.[36] He scored his maiden century (105) the following year, in his first match of the season against Worcestershire,[37] and followed this up later in the season with 108 against Leicestershire;[38] his nine matches in 1904, including one for the Gentlemen of England against the Players of the South at the Bournemouth Cricket Week, yielded him 425 runs at an average of 30.35.[39] Although his average dropped to 18.23 from seven matches in 1905,[39] Johnston returned to form in the 1906 season. His twelve first-class matches that season saw him score 903 runs at an average of 39.26, with two centuries.[39] With his secondment to West Africa, between 1906 and 1910, he played just one season whilst on summer leave in 1908. In that season, he scored 733 runs at an average of 25.27, making one century.[39]

His first season back from his secondment was to be his most successful in terms of runs, with Johnston scoring 1,158 runs at an average of 36.18 from 21 matches,[39] with seven half centuries and a single century (130) against Worcestershire.[40] In 1911, he made six appearances for Hampshire, averaging 41.22.[21] In that same season, he played twice for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and played for the Gentlemen in the Gentlemen v Players at The Oval;[35] in that fixture, he played what Plum Warner described as a "splendid innings" when he made 82 in the Gentlemen's second innings.[21] In the 1912 County Championship, he played twelve matches for Hampshire, in addition to playing once again the Gentlemen v Players fixture.[35] He passed a thousand first-class runs for the second and last time in 1912, scoring 1,044 runs at an average of 54.94 from fourteen matches.[39] He was second in the national batting averages, sandwiched between teammates C. B. Fry, who led the averages, and Phil Mead.[21] His highest first-class score of 175 came against Warwickshire that season, with Johnston having shared in a stand of 250 for the second wicket with Mead (111).[41] His performance in that season's Gentlemen v Players match also garnered praise from Warner, who noted that in making 89 in the Gentlemen's first innings, he had stood up to the bowling of Sydney Barnes on a difficult Lord's wicket.[21] Following this performance, he narrowly missed out on Test selection for England's match against Australia in the Triangular Tournament, with the selection committee being unable to contact him in time for the match.[27] During the 1914 season, which was cut short by the outbreak of the First World War, Johnston made three appearances for Hampshire in the County Championship, having played earlier in the season for the British Army cricket team against the Royal Navy at Lord's.[35]

Despite his wartime injuries, Johnston returned continued to play at first-class level, though he now required a runner;[19][21] controversially, the cricketing authorities decided not to allow him to play with a runner.[42] He played just once for Hampshire following the war, in the 1919 County Championship against Gloucestershire.[35] Two final first-class matches followed in 1920, for the MCC against the British Army, and for the Gentlemen of England against the Combined Services.[35] In 108 first-class matches for Hampshire, he scored 5,442 runs at an average of 30.74, making ten centuries, alongside 27 half centuries.[43] Described by Warner as being of "England class", he further described Johnston as "a very fine batsman with a beautiful method of play".[21] A part-time leg break bowler, he took 18 wickets, all for Hampshire, at an average of 44.72.[44] Warner further described Johnston as a "great fieldsman",[21] with him typically fielding long and taking 57 catches for Hampshire.[43] Following the end of his first-class career, Johnston continued to play minor cricket matches on tours aboard, playing the Netherlands with the Free Foresters and MCC, whilst also visiting Egypt with Hubert Martineau's personal team.[45]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Johnston was associated with the scouts movement in the United Kingdom and was an organiser for the 3rd World Rover Moot in 1939.[27][46] Johnston died suddenly on 27 December 1952 at his residence in Knaphill, Surrey.[2] He was survived by his wife, Esme, whom he had married in 1912, and their two daughters.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dauglish, M. G.; Wainewright, John Bannerman (1907). Winchester College, 1836–1906: A Register. Winchester: P. and G. Wells. p. 577.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Wisden - Obituaries in 1952". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  3. ^ a b Sandford (2014), p. 19.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Col. A. C. Johnston". The Times. No. 52506. London. 30 December 1952. p. 8. Retrieved 20 August 2024 – via Gale.
  5. ^ "No. 27611". The London Gazette. 3 November 1903. p. 6697.
  6. ^ "No. 28047". The London Gazette. 2 August 1907. p. 5298.
  7. ^ "No. 28019". The London Gazette. 7 May 1907. p. 3083.
  8. ^ "No. 28426". The London Gazette. 21 October 1910. p. 7436.
  9. ^ "No. 28649". The London Gazette. 1 October 1912. p. 7194.
  10. ^ a b Astill (2007), p. 4.
  11. ^ Astill (2007), p. 31.
  12. ^ "No. 28944". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 October 1914. p. 8363.
  13. ^ "No. 29074". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 February 1915. p. 1693.
  14. ^ Astill (2007), p. 1.
  15. ^ "No. 29466". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 February 1916. p. 1468.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Astill (2007), p. 2.
  17. ^ "No. 13022". The Edinburgh Gazette. 12 December 1916. p. 2280.
  18. ^ "No. 30111". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 1917. p. 5471.
  19. ^ a b c d e Frith, David (10 November 1918). "Letters home: Cricketers' correspondence from the battlefields". www.thecricketer.com. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  20. ^ a b Davies & Maddocks (1995), p. 155.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h The Cricketer (1953).
  22. ^ "No. 30450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1917. p. 17.
  23. ^ "No. 31018". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 November 1918. p. 13585.
  24. ^ "No. 31115". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 January 1919. p. 480.
  25. ^ "No. 32177". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1920. p. 12810.
  26. ^ "No. 32219". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 February 1921. p. 1043.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g Astill (2007), p. 3.
  28. ^ "No. 33071". The London Gazette. 31 July 1925. p. 5134.
  29. ^ "No. 33309". The London Gazette. 6 September 1927. p. 5734.
  30. ^ "No. 33530". The London Gazette. 30 August 1929. p. 5643.
  31. ^ "No. 33676". The London Gazette. 2 January 1931. p. 60.
  32. ^ "No. 33884". The London Gazette. 18 November 1932. p. 7344.
  33. ^ "No. 33805". The London Gazette. 4 March 1932. p. 1502.
  34. ^ "No. 34408". The London Gazette. 15 June 1937. p. 3857.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g "First-Class Matches played by Alexander Johnston". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  36. ^ "Hampshire v Warwickshire, County Championship 1903". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  37. ^ "Hampshire v Worcestershire, County Championship 1904". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Hampshire v Leicestershire, County Championship 1904". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  39. ^ a b c d e f "First-Class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Alexander Johnston". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  40. ^ "Worcestershire v Hampshire, County Championship 1910". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  41. ^ "Warwickshire v Hampshire, County Championship 1912". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  42. ^ "Hampshire Cricket Remembers On Armistice Centenary". www.utilitabowl.com. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  43. ^ a b "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Alexander Johnston". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  44. ^ "First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Alexander Johnston". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  45. ^ "Miscellaneous Matches played by Alexander Johnston". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  46. ^ "Announcements". Portsmouth Evening News. 27 December 1952. p. 16. Retrieved 25 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Works cited

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