In Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, France  is the Commonwealth War Grave of 6224 Private Alexander Davidson Johnston, serving with the 14th Battalion London Regiment (London Scottish), who died 01/07/1916.

The son of Alexander Davidson Johnston, of “Braeside”, 16, Urfa Terrace, South Shields. He was an employee of Henry Simons Ltd., Manchester.

He was born 24th May 1883, the son of Scottish parents, Alexander Davidson Johnston and Margaret Smith Johnston. His father was a baker and grocer in 34 King Street, running “The Edinburgh Bakery”.

Alex junior joined Westoe Secondary School in 1895.

At age 15, in 1898, he was apprenticed to the Northern Press and Engineering Company. During his time he was attending classes at the Durham College of Science and Sunderland Technical College.

In the last two years of his six-year apprenticeship he worked as a draughtsman. He continued as a draughtsman with Northern Press, and then with Vickers, Son and Maxim in Barrow-in-Furness.

At this time he joined the Institute of Mechanical Engineers as a graduate member.

In 1908 he moved to Manchester and joined Henry Simons Ltd, a company making grain milling equipment. Initially he was in charge of the experimental department, and in 1912 he was promoted to Engineer-in-Charge of Milling Machine Design.

Alex stayed with Henry Simons until, on 16th December 1915, he enlisted as a Private with the 3rd Battalion, before being transferred to the 14th Battalion, London Scottish Regiment. His elder brother George Roderick Johnston was also in the London Scottish, the 1st Battalion. He was posted to France in June, 1916.

He was killed at the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. Aged 33.

His father became Alderman of South Shields and had six sons all in the services. They resided at ‘Braeside’, Urfa Terrace. South Shields.

Research acknowledgments: Mike Todd

Alexander Davidson Johnston is remembered at Harton on H104.03 and at South Shields on S86.146