Claude Ferdinand JOHNSTONE

Claude Ferdinand JOHNSTONE Update Details

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JOHNSTONE, Claude Ferdinand

Service Number:	5603
Enlisted:	8 August 1916
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	20th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1897
Home Town:	Balmain, Leichhardt, New South Wales
Schooling:	Balmain Public School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Lead light worker
Died:	Killed in action, France, 8 April 1918
Cemetery:	Hangard Communal Extension Cemetery Plot IV, Row A, Grave No. 3. HE DIED AS HE LIVED BELOVED BY ALL WHO KNEW HIM AN AUSTRALIAN HERO
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

8 Aug 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5603, 20th Infantry Battalion
9 Sep 1916:	Involvement Private, 5603, 20th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: ''
9 Sep 1916:	Embarked Private, 5603, 20th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney

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Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Claude Johnstone had actually enlisted during May 1915 and was returned to Australia during April 1916. It was noted in his Red Cross file that this was because he was underage. He enlisted again during August 1916. His father and two brothers were also members of the A.I.F., all of whom returned to Australia, the two brothers both wounded.

Claude was killed when hit by machine gun fire during an advance into Hangard Wood near Villers Bretonneux.

His younger brother Reginald Johnstone was returned to Australia in late 1917 having been severely wounded in the leg at Bullecourt. An older brother Frederick Johnstone was also wounded in 1918 and returned to Australia. Their father, 1221 Alfred Johnstone, enlisted in 1915 at the age of 45 and served in the remount units for a few months before being sent home in April 1916.

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