WWI 1915 Trio. Johnston. 9th Bn Royal Scots, the ‘Dandy 9th’. Edinburgh. Wounded, 2nd Battle of Ypres.

1915 Star correctly named 1825 Pte RH Johnston R Scots

Pair correctly named 1825 A/Sjt RH Johnston R Scots

Born c1873, Robert Henry was one of the original members of the ‘Dandy 9th’ Battalion which was formed in 1900.

He was sent to France in February 1915.

The first-line ‘Service’ battalion 1/9th Royal Scots deployed to France on 24 February 1915 and joined 27th Division in the Ypres Salient. When chlorine gas was employed in the Second Battle of Ypres, 9th Royal Scots helped fill the gap on 23 April 1915. In March 1916 they transferred to the 51st (Highland) Division and served with them at High Wood, Beaumont-Hamel, Arras, Third Ypres and Cambrai.

We know he was injured on the 25th of April 1915 whilst fighting at the 2nd Battle of Ypres.

The Second Battle of Ypres was fought from 22 April to 25 May 1915, during the First World War, for control of the tactically valuable high ground to the east and the south of the Flemish town of Ypres, in western Belgium. The First Battle of Ypres had been fought the previous autumn. The Second Battle of Ypres was the occasion of the first mass use by Germany of poison gas on the Western Front.

He worked as a timekeeper for Ballantyne & Hanson Co, printers.

The medals all have original silk ribbon plus there is a copy photograph of Robert from the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch, 6/5/1915.