Corporal Johnston Armstrong, MM
Johnston Armstrong was born on 15 August 1887 at Kesh, County Fermanagh, the third of eight children of agricultural labourer Henry Armstrong and his wife Jane (nee Johnston). At the time of the 1911 Census he was working as a gardener and groom to the Reverend Walter Auchinleck Stack at his home at Tubrid, Kesh, County Fermanagh. Stack was chaplain to the North Irish Horse.
Armstrong enlisted in the North Irish Horse in February 1913 (No.804 – later Corps of Hussars No.71111). He embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action in the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
'A' Squadron served as escort and bodyguard to the BEF's commander-in-chief at St Omer from October 1914 until January 1916, when it was posted as divisional cavalry to the 55th Division. In May 1916 the Squadron came together with E and D Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918, when the regiment was dismounted and converted to a cyclist unit. It then served as corps cyclists to V Corps until the end of the war.
Armstrong remained with his squadron throughout the war. In September 1918 he and two others were awarded the Military Medal for their gallant conduct in the Advance to Victory offensive from 21 August.
On 11 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.
Johnston died on 16 October 1976 and was buried in the Turbid Church of Ireland Graveyard, Kesh.
His name is included on the Roll of Honour in the Drumkeeran Church, Tubrid.
Image sourced from the Find a Grave website, via Robert Mitchell.
This page last updated 13 June 2026.