Thomas R Johnston
Constable

Thomas R Johnston

Felonious
End of Watch January 21, 1921
Age 19
The Vigil Panel 204 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Constable Johnston died in the Central Military Hospital, seventeen days after being fatally wounded when his ten-man patrol was, on 4th January 1921, attacked by terrorists as it crossed Parnell Bridge in the city of Cork.

Another Constable, Francis C. Shortall, died from his injuries on 7th January. The eight remaining officers were all wounded.

Thomas was a native of County Cavan and had been employed as a porter in Edinburgh Hospital before joining the RIC.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-GB-RIC-6DE5809F
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 8, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Constable Johnston served with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Constable Johnston.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location L
Platform Identity rico.nir.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 21, 1921
Age 19
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

Constable Thomas R Johnston is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In L, 592 of 749 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 79% of this state's fallen. That is 24.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Royal Irish Constabulary, 519 of 642 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80.8% of this agency's fallen.

Royal Irish Constabulary
519
of 642 officers
80.8% Felonious
L — Statewide
592
of 749 officers
79% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas R Johnston's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Thomas R Johnston Compares

Age at End of Watch
19
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas R Johnston is highlighted in Jan.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518