Private Samuel Johnston, from Belfast, was killed in action on 1.7.1916 the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Assembled in Thiepval Wood where the 10th Battalion's Commanding Officer was killed by a shell - formed up in No Man's Land at 7.45 a.m. under heavy machine-gun fire from Thiepval - most Officers and Senior N.C.Os were already casualties by the time the Battalion advanced at 8 a.m. Heavy and confused fighting was noticed throughout the day around Schwaben Redoubt and what remained of the Battalion assembled at Crucifix Corner at 8.35 p.m.