More about Peachy Wilson Johnston

Peachy was one of seven brothers, five of whom served in the armed forces during the Great War, David and John survived and Francis and Walter both died. James and William did not serve in the armed forces.

Peachy was educated at Morgan Academy and started training as a legal apprentice with his uncle in the firm of Reid, Johnston & Co. He had enlisted in the ranks in the Dundee Territorial Reserve Artillery at the beginning of the First World War.  In his full time army service, he was commissioned from the ranks to Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) on the 1st March 1916. He had joined the 2nd Highland Brigade and was among the first of the Dundee Battery to go to the front. Like his brother Walter, Peachy was posted to Bedford with the 2^nd Highland Brigade RFA. On the 15^th May 1916, the 2^nd Highland Brigade was divided into two new artillery brigades with the ‘first line’ becoming 256^th Brigade RFA and shortly thereafter posted to France attached to the 51^st Highland Division, with the 2^nd line becoming the 321^st Brigade RFA and remaining in the UK for the duration of the War as a training and home defence brigade. Peachy was posted to France with 256^th Brigade RFA, serving as Adjutant from 1/6/1916 and Captain from 29/8/1917. He fought the entire war on the Western Front and survived unscathed. He was awarded the Military Cross and mentioned in dispatches. His M.C. was listed in the London Gazette of 1st January 1919 as: – Lt. (A. /Capt.) Peachy Wilson Johnston, 256th (High.) Bde. R.F.A. (T.F.)

The citation for Peachy’s MC reads :-for continuous and conspicuous gallantry in action under enemy fire from 25th February 1918 to the 17th September 1918, and in particular during March and April 1918, when he successfully maintained communication and kept touch with the batteries, and never failed to repeat all orders and tactical information through to the battery commanders. A thoroughly capable adjutant and fearless officer, whose work has been outstanding.

In this citation, March 1918 refers to the German Spring Offensive on the Somme/Flesquieres and April 1918 refers to the German Offensive in the Lys. The 51st Highland Division bore the brunt of the German attack in both of these offensives, particularly at Flesquieres in March 1918.

Peachy was his real name, the story behind it is that his Aunt, Helen Johnston qualified as a Doctor in London in the 1880’s and went to Agra, India with the Baptists as a Medical Missionary. Whilst in Agra she met and married an American Methodist Missionary called Dr. Peachy Taliaferro Wilson. So was named after his uncle.