(Click on image to enlarge)
There are photographs of this stone (provided by Mr. M. Shrive, a member of the greater family of
1523 Thomas Shrive, 11th Hussars (who was killed in the Charge), in the 8th Hussar file.
The inscription on the stone which was finally raised over his grave is as follows:
"This stone was erected by a friend to the memory of Sergeant-Major Johnston, late of the 8th K.R.I. Hussars, who died November 28th 1882, aged 49 years. He was one of the survivors of the gallant 600 in the Charge of the Light Brigade on Oct. 25th 1854 and served in the following campaigns with his regiment."
Then follows a list of engagements in the Crimea and India in which he is said to have taken part, and a quotation from Tennyson's "Charge":
Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Tchernya, Bulganak, MacKenzie's Farm, Kertch, Yeannakale, Kotah, Chundarree. Kotahkeserai, Gwalior, Powreee, Sindwaho, Koorwye, Koondree and Boordah."
O' when can their glory fade. O' the wild charge they made,
All the world wondered. Honour the Charge they made.
Honour the Light Brigade. Noble Six Hundred."
See also a photograph of the base of his tombstone, which shows a representation of a horse lying in its side, dead, another down, and the figure of an Hussar lying under his horse and surrounded by the debris of war.
PB: A full transcript of the Harrogate Advertiser for 8th December 1885 [not checked against source], which mentions the carving at the foot of the memorial:
The Late Sergeant Major Johnston
This Balaclava hero, it will be remembered, died at Harrogate in 1882, and his funeral was attended with those military honours which so truly befit the interment of those who took part, as the late Sergeant Major Johnston did, in the famous Balaclava charge.
It was thought advisable to memorialise the death of this hero by the erection of a suitable monument to his memory in the Harrogate Cemetery, and with this intention a few of his admirers formed themselves into a committee to solicit subscriptions.
In due course the committee placed the order for the tombstone into the hands of Mr Thomas Potts, sculptor, Cemetery Road, Harrogate, and a handsome and suitable monument has been prepared by him, which now awaits erection over the grave of the deceased soldier.
It is made from the best Bolton Wood stone, and weighs in the aggregate over 2½ tons. At the base of the stone is an elaborate carving of the famous
"War" picture after Landseer, and the manner in which this particular part of the work has been done reflects the greatest credit upon the sculptor, who has spared neither labour nor pains to give the tombstone an imposing and attractive appearance.
It is surmounted by a Maltese cross, and stands nearly eight feet in
Height: The top is worked in "broken ornament" pattern, and the stone is further beautified by small green granite pillars, placed on each side of the description, which reads as follows:
"This monument was erected by voluntary subscriptions to the memory of Sergeant Major Johnston, late of the 8th KRI Hussars, who died November 28th, 1882, aged 49 years.
He was one of the survivors of 'The gallant Six Hundred', in 'The Charge of the Light Brigade', October 25th, 1854, and served in the following engagements with his regiment : Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman, Tchernaya, Bulganak, McKenzie's Farm, Kertch, Tennakale, Kotah, Chundares, Kotahkeserai, Gwalior, Powree, Sindwhad, Koorwye, Koondrye, and Boordah.
'When can their glory fade?
Oh! The wild charge they made,
All the world wondered.
Honour the charge they made,
Honour the Light Brigade,
Noble Six Hundred'.
[Source:http:/www.british-genealogy.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-14572.html (accessed date)]
Coloured engraving of Edwin Landseer's "War", c.1850 — the source image for the sculpture at the base of Robert Johnston's memorial.
(Click on image to enlarge)
The restoration of his memorial, 1984
Early 1984: Early in 1984 an article appeared in a local newspaper [title and date?] describing how some three years before, three Harrogate ex-servicemen, when out for a stroll, "discovered" the grave of Robert Johnston and decided to learn more of him.
From the article it appeared they had learnt little apart from the fact that he "had at some time been employed by the Liverpool-based firm of William Gossage", but in what capacity or in what period of his life is not clear — and asked for readers to pass on anything they might know. (A full copy of his service record was sent, but it was never acknowledged.)
"The intention of the trio is now to campaign for a fund to be raised with the object of restoring the stone to its original condition; in the words of one of them, "We're going to try and put this stone right for at least 100 or 200 years".
Restoration will cost about £1000 and the 4th/8th Hussars have already donated £100 towards the effort and Harrogate Council has already pledged its support for the project. If successful, the men are to hold a ceremonial unveiling of the renovated stone."
October 1884: On the 25th of October 1984, a ceremony was held to unveil the restored memorial stone, the necessary funds to do this having been raised by the same people as previously recorded. (There are copies in the files of the reports from the "Harrogate Observer" and also from the "Soldier" magazine and the accompanying photographs which appeared in the papers concerned at the time.)
Also in the 8th Hussar file are photographs of the stone with its restored naming, the Harrogate Cottage Hospital (now a Home Guard Club), and of St. Peter's Church at Harrogate from which he was buried.
The service was attended by about 100 invited guests from the military, local dignitaries, foreign representatives and public bodies, plus many from the general public, who were also present.
The programme was started with the Mayor arriving at 10.50 a.m., the piper then playing a Lament, and following the Mayor's speech and the unveiling, the bugler sounded the "Charge." Then came the Military Representatives speech (the Regimental Secretary of the 4th/8th Royal Hussars) and the laying of the flowers.
The ceremony ended with the bugler sounding the "Last Post" and the return to St. Luke's church for the buffet and a medal display. At the unveiling ceremony the senior Committee member, Mr. Peter Burrell, made the following speech:
"My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen — Firstly I would like to thank the Lord Mayor on behalf of the S/M Johnston Committee for coming here today and doing us the honour of unveiling the restoration work done to this magnificent monument and also to the other councillors who are here today for their backing and help given to us as we prepared for this day.
A special thank-you to the military personnel, many of whom have travelled many miles to be present, to the members of the 8th Royal Irish Association, and to Major R.W. Smith for enlightening us all as to the character and calibre of the man we are honouring today.
Still with the military, we must not forget the Piper and Trumpeter for their kind services and expertise which has added that bit of atmosphere to the proceedings.
Our thanks too, to the Revd. Trigg for coming along and conducting the service, and not forgetting, of course, Mr. Stephenson, the Stonemason, for the marvellous job that has been done in restoring the monument to its former glory.
When I think what this monument looked like two years ago, as my friends and I stood here on the hundredth anniversary of his death, made us decide there and then to form a committee with the idea of raising money to have the stone refaced.
"Soldier" magazine heard about us and featured the story, as did various local newspapers, thus causing great interest from old soldiers from all parts of the country and from local people who had no idea that this monument existed.
We then received donations from the 8th Queen's Royal Irish Hussars Association, the Council, and from the public at large, thus enabling us to reach the target and to plan today's proceedings. It is therefore a comforting thought that the real aim of the Committee has been achieved, that is, that the people of today and in the future, will be able to view this monument for the next hundred years.
One last thing, before we all adjourn, I would like to call on the Trumpeter to finalise the proceedings by sounding the "Last Post". Thank you one and all."
"Memorial Service for T.S.M. Robert Johnston
A Memorial service was held in St. Peter's Church on Sunday evening the 2nd of December 1985, in memory of, and in thanksgiving for the life of Troop-Sergeant Major Robert Johnston of the Royal Irish Hussars who fought with the Light Brigade at Balaclava and died in Harrogate just over one hundred years ago.
The service was attended by members of the Royal British Legion, and included Old Comrades of the Royal Irish Hussars, the Parachute Regiment and the Green Howards. The standards of the Harrogate Branch of the Royal British Legion and that of the Green Howards was in the procession during the service.
Amongst those present were Mr. Roy Hamilton, Mr. K. Symons, Mr. G. Stephenson, and Mr. Peter Burrell, with Mr. John Leng (members of the Johnston Memorial Committee). The choir of St. Peter's led the singing and Mr. Ian Linford was at the organ.
The Vicar, the Reverend Neville Sugden, a Chaplain of the Royal British Legion, conducted the service, and in his address said that the evening had a three-fold purpose.
To give thanks for a gallant soldier.
To remind us of our heritage and to dedicate ourselves to the service of Jesus Christ.
Speaking of T.S.M. Johnston, the Vicar said that his connection with Harrogate was recalled by the restored memorial in Grove Cemetery, Harrogate, where he was buried on the 28th of November 1882. After his discharge from the Army and on account of ill-health and surviving both the Crimea and Indian Mutiny, T.S.M. Johnston had come to live in Harrogate and spent his last years in Belford Road, in what is now the Home Guard Club.
'The funeral service for this gallant soldier, who died at the age of 49, took place from St. Peter's Church and it is recorded that more than 25,000 people lined the streets from the Church to Grove Road Cemetery.'
The Vicar then reminded the congregation that this life was not the end, but that we move into eternal life through our faith in Christ.
It is expected that more news will come from the Memorial Committee early in the New Year when a Tree Planting and Plaque ceremonies are being arranged."
PB: A further article,
"Harrogate's monument to one of the '600'", appeared in the Harrogate Advertiser, 15th February 2010.
