Charles William JOHNSTON

Charles William JOHNSTON Update Details

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JOHNSTON, Charles William

Service Number:	2705
Enlisted:	7 August 1915, Warwick Farm, New South Wales
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	56th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Redfern, New South Wales, Australia, 1892
Home Town:	Redfern, City of Sydney, New South Wales
Schooling:	Sydney Technical High School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Student
Died:	Died of Wounds, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916
Cemetery:	No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial

World War 1 Service

7 Aug 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2705, Depot Battalion , Warwick Farm, New South Wales
2 Nov 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2705, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: ''
2 Nov 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2705, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney
16 Feb 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 56th Infantry Battalion, T.O.S. from 20th Infantry Battalion
19 Jun 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2705, 56th Infantry Battalion, Embarked Alexandria for B.E.F per H.M.T. "Huntsend"
29 Jun 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2705, 56th Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Marseilles, France
19 Jul 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2705, 56th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix)
20 Jul 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2705, 56th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Died of Wounds -- Head Wound -- While on stretcher being carried to dressing station
20 Jul 1916:	Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 2705, 56th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Wounded In Action -- Head
20 Jul 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2705, 56th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2705 awm_unit: 56th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-20

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.

Biography contributed

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)

Charles William Johnston exact burial site is not unknown but he has been commemorated at VC Corner Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France. (14)

References

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: '

14. AIF - 2705 PTE Charles Johnston - place of burial, commemoration details

Virtual
War Memorial
Australia