Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

In 1910 a 19-year-old Scotsman Kenneth Johnstone emigrated to Australia from Argyll, working on the Sydney wharves soon after his arrival. Kenneth was the eldest of two sons of in a family of five children to John and Margaret Johnstone (nee McKenzie). Friends would describe Kenneth as having a fair complexion and being nuggety, at just a tad over 5’ 8” tall. Not long after immigrating Kenneth fell in love with Louie Malton who had emigrated from London that same year. They married in 1912 and in 1913 their first son John (Jackie) McKenzie was born and in December 1914 their second son Henry (Harry) James arrived.

It was almost inevitable that when war broke out that Kenneth, as a Scotsman and new Australian would follow his duty, leave his young family and volunteer for the AIF on 17th April 1915. His younger brother James Black Johnstone was destined for the British army as a gunner in 125th Battery, 25th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. Kenneth departed he and Louie’s Glebe home in June 1915 aboard the HMAT Karoola as part of the sixth replacement detachment for the Ist Battalion, Ist AIF at Gallipoli. 

Kenneth would eventually rise to the rank of corporal and would be wounded a number of times during his service. Among the many letters that he and Louie exchanged was one in late 1917 where he simply wrote that he was going back to, help the lads. Kenneth had in November 1917 already received word from his mother that his younger brother James had been killed in action at the end of October. April 1918, Kenneth was again wounded in action and hospitalised for the third time. Witnesses differed, some thought Kenneth was struck by shrapnel from a shell, others by bomb fragments dropped from a plane. Corporal Bray would say, “We were coming up the road on our way to the trenches at Ypres [near the French village of Strazeele]. An aeroplane dropped a bomb on [B Company] and wounded a few among whom was Johnstone [6 Platoon]. I think he was hit in the [lower] back and went to Blighty. … I saw him wounded myself”. Another, Corporal Doughty, would add, I saw Johnstone hit in the back …. he was sent to England …. fine fellow, very popular, and we missed him very much”. 

Weakened by his wounds Kenneth developed bronchitis, then pneumonia and died in hospital, aged just 27 on 2nd May 1918, a mere ten hours before his mother Margaret and a sister and uncle arrived, “from an out of the way part of Scotland”. Kenneth’s mother insisted that his body be returned to his birthplace for burial, but the army insisted that neither she nor they could afford the expense.

Kenneth would receive a full ceremonial burial in a marked Australian war grave, four days after his death. His funeral was conducted by one Reverend Bauld in Kenneth’s birthplace of Campbell Town, at the bottom of the Kintyre peninsula, close to its eponymous Mull. His funeral procession passed from a boat moored at the Campbell Town docks to its Kilkerran Cemetery, preceded by four Scottish pipers and Kenneth’s mother Margaret. Royal Sailors formed a ceremonial firing party over his grave which remains beside a small creek, under the shade of nearby trees. On his headstone can be found a short loving inscription from Louie and the Australian rising sun.

Louie would eventually receive Kenneth’s few belongings and later a photo of Kenneth’s grave. Among those spare things were their letters, photos and cards, his badge, wallet, notebook, razor, shaving brush, combs, hair brush, clasp knife, his wedding ring and a spoon. On Friday 2nd May 1919, the first anniversary of Kenneth’s death, five In Memoriam notices appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald. They included one each from Louie and her sister Helen, another from married friends and two from returning ANZACs who served with Kenneth. One simply read, "One year has passed, and none can tell. The loss of him we loved so well". Two short months after Kenneth’s death his five-year-old son Jackie died in Sydney of meningitis. His younger son Harry would grow up an educated, handsome young man with a love of dancing, motorcycles and his extended family. Like his father, Harry joined the Australian army when war broke again, moving quickly to the rank of Captain in the Provost. But also like his father he did not survive the war. Harry died aged 28 in Concord Hospital as serving Australian officer in January 1943.

He was born in Campbeltown (Scottish Gaelic: Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain or Ceann Locha), a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Kintyre District of Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran (an Anglicization of the Gaelic, which means "head of the loch by the kirk of Ciarán"), it was renamed in the 17th century as Campbell's Town after Archibald Campbell (Earl of Argyle) was granted the site in 1667. Campbeltown became an important centre for Scotch whisky, and a busy fishing port.

He was 27 and the son of John and Margaret Johnstone; husband of Louie Johnstone, of "Peakehurst," 63, Hopetown St., Camperdown, Sydney, Australia.

He also left two children, one of whom Henry James Johnston [Harry] was to become a casualty of WWII.

He is remembered as Johnston on the Campbeltown war memorial, a tall tower built of rustic stone blocks with a Celtic Cross set into the main face in raised grey granite blocks. 

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Kenneth Johnstone was born in 1890 at Campbeltown, Argyllshire, Scotland.

According to information provided by his wife for the Roll of Honour – Kenneth Johnstone came to Australia when he was 19 years of age.

Kenneth Johnstone married Louie Malton at Woollahra, Sydney, NSW in 1912.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 17th April, 1915 as a 26 year old, married, Wharf Labourer from Franklyn Street, Glebe, Sydney, NSW.

Private Kenneth Johnstone, Service number 2161, embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Karoola (A63) on 16th June, 1915 with the 1st Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements & disembarked at Egypt (no date recorded).

He joined 1st Battalion from 6th Reinforcements at Gallipoli on 6th August, 1915.

Private Johnstone was wounded in action at Gallipoli between 6th – 9th August, 1915 & admitted to Hospital Ghezireh on 12th August, 1915 with shrapnel wounds to foot. Private Johnstone was transferred to Hospital & Alexandria on 25th September, 1915 & reported to Overseas Base at Ghezireh on 9th December, 1915.

He embarked from Alexandria to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) on Caledonian & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 17th May, 1916. He proceeded on furlough to England from 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples, France on 3rd June, 1916 & rejoined from furlough on 12th June, 1916.

On 12th June, 1916 Private Johnstone was sent sick to Hospital at Etaples. He reported to 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples from Hospital on 25th August, 1916. Private Johnstone rejoined his Battalion in the Field on 15th September, 1916.

Private Kenneth Johnstone was promoted to Lance Corporal from 26th December, 1916 while posted in France. He was promoted to Temporary Corporal 19th January, 1917, vice Whilton (missing) & confirmed Corporal on 6th February, 1917.

He was admitted to Field Ambulance on 16th February, 1917 with a septic foot; transferred to Divisional Rest Station & rejoined his Unit on 7th March, 1917.

On 18th July, 1917 Corporal Johnstone was sent to England & was posted to 1st Training Battalion at Durrington, Wiltshire on 20th July, 1917. He was appointed to Permanent Cadre of 1st Training Battalion on 20th July, 1917.

He completed a course at Gas School Chiseldon from 4th – 11th August, 1917 & qualified as Assistant Instructor. He then attended a Course of Instruction at No. 1 Area, Gas School at Tidworth, Wiltshire from 21st August, 1917.

Corporal Johnstone was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill on 7th November, 1917 & proceeded overseas to France on 27th December, 1917. He was posted to Australian Divisional Base Depot at Havre, France from England on 28th December, 1917.

He was sent sick to Hospital on 29th December, 1917 & joined Australian Infantry Base Depot at Havre on 16th February, 1918. He was marched out on 20th February & rejoined his Battalion on 23rd February, 1918.

Corporal Kenneth Johnstone was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 16th April, 1918. He was invalided to England on Hospital Ship on 25th April, 1918.

He was admitted to 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England on 25th April, 1918 with gunshot wounds to right buttock – severe.

Corporal Kenneth Johnstone died at 6.10 pm on 2nd May, 1918 at 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England from wounds received in action – gunshot wounds to right buttock & Pneumonia.

A Telegram was sent to Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F., London from Cambridge on 3rd May, 1918 regarding the death of Corporal Kenneth Johnstone, stating “Mother of deceased is desirous of body being conveyed to Campbeltown. Burial 31 Kilheman Cemetery Monday next. Deceased mother’s address is Royal Avenue Mansions, Campbeltown. Wire authority please. Urgent.”

Corporal Kenneth Johnstone was buried at 3 pm on 6th May, 1918 in Kilkerran Cemetery, Campbeltown, Argyllshire, Scotland – Plot number 3. 453. and has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

From the Red Cross Wounded & Missing file for Corporal Johnstone:
• Corporal. R. C. Bray, 5661, 1st AIF wrote: “We were coming up the road on our way to the trenches near Ypres. An aeroplane dropped a bomb on B. Coy. and wounded a few among whom was Johnstone. I think he was hit in the back and went to Blighty. We heard at Battn. H.Q. that he contracted Pneumonia and died, but I do not know this for certain. I saw him wounded myself.”
• H. B. Stephen, Newnham College, Cambridge wrote: “I am away from data, but the death of 2161 Pte K. L. Johnstone, 1st Battn. A.I.F., is well within my recollection. He was only over from France about 4 days when what had been bronchitis became pneumonia, and he succumbed to this some 10 hours before his mother, sister and uncle arrived from an out of the way part of Scotland. They were very bent on his body being taken to Campbelltown, in Argyle, where they live, and the cost of this has been one of our anxieties, the authorities refusing to make any allowance, and we knew the relations to be without resources, and the cost of the long journey a very considerable one. He had a wife and children in Sydney."

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/campbeltown.html