Corporal James Johnston

Corporal James Johnston, 1st/4th ( Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was lost at sea, aged 39, on the 30th December 1917 and is commemorated on the Chatby Memorial, Alexandria, Egypt. He had been born in Galashiels and was the son of the late john and Agnes Johnston and the husband of Catherine Johnston of 7 Tweed Place, Galashiels. He was in business as a saddler in Channel Street, Galashiels and a member of the 4th Territorial. K.O.S.B. and had gone to Gallipoli with the Battalion in June 1915. He then served in Egypt and Palestine. He was on his way to re join the battalion aboard the Troopship “Aragon” when it was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UC34 outside Alexandria harbour with the loss of 610 lives. The ship had carried 2,200 troops, 150 Officers and 160 nurses plus the crew of 200. The ship, a liner, of 9,500 tons had been launched in 1905 and was the first British passenger liner to carry some naval guns for defence.