TANNAY BRITISH CEMETERY
Thiennes
Nord
France
General Directions: The village of Thiennes is about 8 kilometres east of Aire-sur-la-Lys, which is a town found on the N43 between Bethune and St. Omer. Leave Thiennes on the D122, heading east towards Haverskerque. Cross over the canal and continue towards Tannay, which is a hamlet on this road. The Cemetery can be found on the right hand side of this road and access to the Cemetery is gained by passing along a 300 metre track in front of a farm house. The Cemetery is on the left immediately after the farm.
The German offensive of April 1918 pushed the front line back almost as far as St Venant in this sector and this was one of the cemeteries made for Commonwealth burials arising from fighting in the area. Tannay British Cemetery was begun in April 1918 by the 13th Field Ambulance and used until August, most of the burials being carried out by the 5th Division and 61st (South Midland) Division.
Casualty Details: UK 362, Canada 1, Total Burials: 363
23286 Private
George Johnstone
2nd Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
30/06/1918, aged 24.
Plot 4. E. 7.
George's death was reported in the local newspaper as below:
July 12, 1918
APPLEGARTH SOLDIER KILLED. Mrs. Johnstone, Blindhillbush, Lockerbie, has
received the following letter from the chaplain of the 2nd KOSB, stating
that her son, Pte. George Johnstone, has been killed in France. He had been
about two years in the Army, and was formerly employed on the farm at home:
“4th July. Dear Mrs. Johnstone,--I am chaplain to the 2nd KOSB, and it is
in deep regret I write to inform you of the death of your son, 23286, Pte.
G. Johnstone, which took place on the 30th June. The battalion had made an
advance, and for a few days after the enemy shelled our new positions rather
heavily. Your son was in a trench beside Battalion Headquarters. The enemy
started shelling this trench, and your son was one of the first to be hit.
He was killed instantaneously. I was along in the trench a short time
afterwards, and saw his body. He had a most peaceful expression on his
face, and looked as if he were sleeping. We brought his body back that
night to one of our British military cemeteries five miles behind our lines,
and buried him there with the usual Christian rites and military honours in
presence of practically the whole battalion. He lies alongside others of
his comrades of the battalion. We are erecting a cross over his
grave on which full particulars will be printed. I can’t tell you how
sorry I am over your son’s loss or how much I sympathise with you. I knew
your boy very intimately, and had the greatest respect and admiration for
him, as we all had from the commanding officer downwards. He was one of the
best and smartest soldiers in the battalion, and always did his duty most
cheerfully and most satisfactorily. He and I often had a chat together, and
he often spoke to me of his home and people. The commanding officer and I
were talking of him the other day, and he spoke in the very highest terms of
him. I am sorry I cannot yet tell you where he was killed and where
buried. May the Father of love be your comfort and stay in your
bereavement, and at last bring you to your dear boy from whom you are
separated only for a season.
--Yours faithfully, JAMES T. HALL
In Memoriam. JOHNSTONE—In loving memory of my dear son and brother, Pte. G.
Johnstone, 2nd KOSB, who was killed in action in France, 30th June, 1918,
aged 24 years. We thought little when he left home that he would ne’er
return, and now he lies in a soldier’s grave, and we are left to mourn. He
sleeps in a grave in that far-off land, that comrades kindly made him; may
he rest in peace in his narrow bed where friendly hands have laid him. For
faith, for liberty, for truth, he offered up his stalwart youth; he died as
‘twere not death to give his life that all he loved might live.
--Inserted by his loving Mother, Brothers, and Sisters Blindhillbush,
Lockerbie
Picture courtesy of great nephew William Johnstone
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