Donald Johnston (cricketer)

Donald Johnston
Personal information
Full name
Donald Clark Johnston
Born2 December 1894
Shanghai, China
Died13 September 1918(1918-09-13) (aged 23)
Beugneux, Aisne, France
BattingUnknown
BowlingUnknown
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1914Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 2
Runs scored 6
Batting average 6.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 6
Balls bowled 174
Wickets 2
Bowling average 35.50
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 2/27
Catches/stumpings 2/–
Source: Cricinfo, 16 January 2020

Donald Clark Johnston (2 December 1894 – 13 September 1918) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

The son of John and Frances Johnston, he was born in Shanghai in December 1894. He was educated at Malvern College, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford.[1] While studying at Oxford, Johnston played first-class cricket for Oxford University in 1914, making two appearances against G. J. V. Weigall's XI at Oxford and L. G. Robinson's XI at Attleborough.[2]

Johnston served in the British Army during the First World War, being commissioned as a temporary second lieutenant in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in October 1914.[3] By October 1917, he was a temporary captain, a rank which he relinquished having ceased to command a battalion.[4] He was again made an acting captain in January 1918,[5] before relinquishing the rank once more in July 1918.[6] He had been promoted to the full rank of lieutenant the previous month.[7] Johnston was seriously wounded during an assault on Hill 158 on 30 July 1918 as part of the Second Battle of the Marne. He died of his wounds on 13 September 1918 at Beugneux in France.[1]

  1. ^ a b McCrery, Nigel (30 July 2015). Final Wicket: Test and First Class Cricketers Killed in the Great War. Pen and Sword. p. 240. ISBN 978-1473864191.
  2. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Donald Johnston". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  3. ^ "No. 28932". The London Gazette. 9 October 1914. p. 8044.
  4. ^ "No. 30327". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 October 1917. p. 10385.
  5. ^ "No. 30327". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 October 1917. p. 10385.
  6. ^ "No. 30823". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 July 1918. p. 9079.
  7. ^ "No. 30773". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 June 1918. p. 7716.