William Johnstone (VC)

Leading Stoker William Johnstone VC (6 August 1823 – 20 August 1857) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He enlisted and served as John Johnstone.

Of uncertain background, he may have been a Swedish Johannsen whose name was Anglicized as Johnstone. He is listed as being born in Hanover.

Details
He was 31 years old, and a stoker in the Royal Navy during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 9 August 1854 in the Baltic, Stoker Johnstone and a lieutenant (John Bythesea) from HMS Arrogant, landed on the island of Vårdö, Åland Islands off Finland in order to intercept important despatches from the Czar which were being sent via Vårdö to Bomarsund. The two men spent two nights reconnoitring the island and on 12 August when the despatches arrived, they ambushed the five Russians carrying them. Two of the carriers dropped their mail bags and ran but the other three surrendered and were taken to Arrogant. In this action the officer and stoker were armed with just one pistol.

Death
He died on 20 August 1857 from self-inflicted wounds whilst serving aboard HMS Brunswick in the West Indies. He cut his own throat after attacking another man with a knife, and was buried at sea in the St Vincent Passage, West Indies.

The medal
Johnstone's medal is displayed in the County Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, California