JOHNSTON, George Robinson
| Service Number: | 2704 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 June 1915, Served in the Citizen Military Forces, Sergeant, Essendon |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Lake Rowan, Victoria, Australia, 6 November 1895 |
| Home Town: | Lake Rowan, Moira, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Accidental (Injuries from aircraft crash), Worthy Down Aerodrome, NW of Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, 24 March 1918, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Winchester (West Hill) Old Cemetery 34. 1926, Hampshire, Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lake Rowan War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2704, 6th Infantry Battalion, Served in the Citizen Military Forces, Sergeant, Essendon | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug 1915: | Involvement Private, 2704, 6th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 26 Aug 1915: | Embarked Private, 2704, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Melbourne | |
| 23 Apr 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2704, 6th Infantry Battalion, GSW right thigh | |
| 12 Dec 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) | |
| 24 Mar 1918: | Involvement 2704, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2704 awm_unit: Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Cadet awm_died_date: 1918-03-24 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
Died on this date - 24th March........ Cadet George Robinson Johnston was born at Lake Rowan, Victoria in 1895. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 19th June, 1915 as a 19 year old Clerk.
Private Johnston joined 6th Battalion at Lemnos on 31st October, 1915. He embarked from Anzac on Hospital Ship on 30th November, 1915 & admitted to Hospital at Alexandria on 5th December, 1915 with dysentery. He recovered & rejoined his Unit on 11th March, 1916.
Private Johnston was wounded in action on 23rd April, 1917 & invalided to England where he was admitted to 5th Southern General Hospital on 30th April, 1917 with gunshot wounds to right thigh. Private Johnson recovered & was posted to No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 10th August, 1917.
Private Johnston was taken on strength at A.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps) Details at Wendover & mustered as 2nd Air Mechanic from 15th December, 1917. He joined R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps) Observers School at Worcester to qualify for appointment as Flying Officer (Observer) & was appointed Cadet from 1st February, 1918.
Cadet George Robinson Johnston died on 24th March, 1918 as a result of injuries received in an aeroplane accident at Worthy Down Aerodrome, north west of Winchester, Hampshire, England. Lieutenant J. L. Cumming, aged 19, also died in the aeroplane accident. He was buried in Arbroath Western Cemetery, Arbroath, Angus, Scotland.
A Court of Inquiry was held - “inquiring into the death of Cadet Johnston. Fractured Jaw, fractured thigh, injuries to the skull. The Court finds that the Pilot either stalled on the turn or fainted in the Air, falling on the elevator control. He was on duty at the time and was killed as the result of the crash.”
Cadet George Robinson Johnston was buried on 28th March, 1918 in West Hill (Old) Cemetery, Winchester, Hampshire, England.
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/winchester.html
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