JOHNSTON, Francis
| Service Number: | 4453 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 December 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Redfern, New South Wales, Australia, 1890 |
| Home Town: | Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 25 October 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial - France) |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4453 | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 4453, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 4453, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Sydney | |
| 25 Oct 1916: | Involvement Private, 4453, 53rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4453 awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-10-25 |
Heroes at the Front Newspaper Article
Robertson Advocate (NSW : 1894 -1923)
Fri 24 Nov 1916
Page 2
Heroes at the Front
The sad news has been received that Lieut. Frank Johnston, eldest son of Mr. Arthur Johnston, Ness Avenue, Dulwich Hill (and late of Kangaloon), has been killed in action in France. The family of the deceased soldier have the sympathy of their many friends in their double loss, as only a few weeks ago they received word of the death from wounds of their second son, Charles. A younger son recently returned to Australia after two years' service, during which he took part in the Gallipoli campaign.
Submitted 17 October 2020 by Donna Laguna
Biography contributed by Sydney Technical High School
Francis Johnston was born in Redfern, NSW Australia in 1890 (1). His family consisted of him, his younger brother Charles William Johnston and father Arthur Aughrium Johnston. The Johnston family resided at 38 Ness avenue Dulwich Hill, NSW where Francis Johnston spent all his boyhood. He attended Sydney Technical High from 1911-1912 (2) and after completing his schooling Johnston became a clerk.
His father Arthur Aughrium Johnston embarked on the 18th of October 1914 and he served in the 1st Infantry Battalion as a private.(4) Similarly Johnston’s younger brother Charles William Johnston enlisted on the 31st of July 1915. (5).
Francis Johnston enlisted on the 14th of December 1914 in Casula NSW and was ranked a private. On April 9, 1916, PTE Johnston embarked from Sydney with the 11th Reinforcements aboard the HMAT Nestor (A17). On June 12th 1916 Johnston was admitted to the No.1 Camp Hospital, he was later discharged on the 18th of June(6). During his military training in England, it was reported that he was absent without leave from 0600 9th of September till 2400 10th of september, for this crime he was forfeited 4 days pay and 2 days by Royal Warrant (7). After further training in England he arrived in France for service on the Western Front on the 24th of September 1916. On the 9th of October Johnston was taken by strength to the 53rd Battalion. Tragically, he was killed in action on October 25, 1916, on the Somme in France. PTE Francis Johnston was 26 years old.
Similarly his brother Charles William Johnston also served on the Western Front. Charles Johnston enlisted on the 31st of July 1915 in Warrick farm, NSW also being ranked a private.(9) On November 2, 1915, he embarked on the HMAT A14 Euripides from Sydney, NSW, as part of the 20th Battalion. On 16th of February 1916 Charles Johnston was transferred from 5th Training Battalion in Zeitoun to the 56th Battalion at Tel el Kebir. June 16, that same year, Johnston embarked from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force. and finally, on the 29th of June he disembarked in Marseilles, France. (10) The following month, he was wounded in action on July 20th and died of his wounds while being carried to the dressing station. PTE Charles Johnston was 23 years old. (11)
Statement, 2780 Lance Corporal B.H. PHILLIPS, C Company, 56th Bn, 14 November 1916: 'Johnston was a L.M. Gunner and [3347 F.] James was in A. Company. We made an attack on the 19th and were driven back to our own lines and these two and three others were killed by the same shell in our trench. James and Johnston were both taken out and buried in a Cemetery behind the lines. I think the Cemetery was at the mouth of "V.C. Avenue" near Fleurbaix.' (12)
Although the exact burial location for Francis Johnston is unknown he has been buried and commemorated at VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL- France. (13) As for his younger brother, Charles William Johnston his exact burial site is also unknown but he has been buried and commemorated at VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France. (14)
References
1.Johnston Frank : SERN 4453 : POB Redfern NSW : POE Casula NSW : NOK F Johnston Arthur
2. AIF - THS 1911 division II first year and 1912 Class 2A
3. Johnston Frank : SERN 4453 : POB Redfern NSW : POE Casula NSW : NOK F Johnston Arthur
4. Ibid
5. VWMA Private 626, 1st Infantry Battalion JOHNSTON, Arthur Aughrium
6. Johnston Frank : SERN 4453 : POB Redfern NSW : POE Casula NSW : NOK F Johnston Arthur, Item ID 1829726
7. Ibid
8. VWMA ID number P08794.002 - description
9. VWMA Private 2705, 20th infantry Battalion
10. AIF - 2705 PTE Charles Johnston
11. Ibid
12.AIF - Statement, 2780 Lance Corporal B.H. PHILLIPS, C Company, 56th Bn,14 November 1916: '
13. AIF - 4453 PTE Francis Johnston - place of burial, commemoration details
14. AIF - 2705 PTE Charles Johnston - place of burial, commemoration details
15. AIF - 4453 PTE Francis Johnston - other details.
16. AIF - 2705 PTE Charles Johnston - other details: medals.
Bibliography
Johnston Frank : SERN 4453 : POB Redfern NSW : POE Casula NSW : NOK F Johnston Arthur - NAA: B2455, JOHNSTON F. AIF PTE Francis JOHNSTON 4453.
VWMA ID number P08794.002 - description 1914. VWMA service number 4453. VWMA Private 626, 1st Infantry Battalion JOHNSTON, Arthur Aughrium. AIF - 2705 PTE Charles Johnston.
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