Frederick Charles Johnstone



Dec 12, 1888

Born in Liverpool, England to Charles George and Daisy Johnstone

 

Nov 6, 1914

Attested into the 21st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario

 

Ø  Number 59517 (temporary number 972)

Ø  Next of kin given as Charles George Johnstone, father, 27 Buckingham Road, Liverpool, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Advertising Manager

Ø  Previous military experience given as 5 years in the King’s Liverpool Regiment in England

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Posted to the Machine Gun Section

Shortly after attesting he was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

The 21st Battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area through the winter of 1914-15.

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

 

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

 

 

 

Sep 6, 1915

Forfeited 1 day’s pay and reduced in rank to Private for being AWL (Absent Without Leave)

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkestone

 

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

 

Sep 22, 1915

Sentenced to 28 days Field Punishment No. 2 for “Stating a falsehood”

 

Jan 20, 1916

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal with pay

 

Mar 27, 1916

Granted leave until April 4, 1916

 

Jun 19, 1916

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant

 

May 12, 1917

Transferred to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) in Seaford, England to receive a commission and attached to the 3rd CCD (Canadian Command Depot)

 

Jul 8, 1917

Attached to the OTC (Officer Training Course) in Bexhill

 

Sep 2, 1917

Transferred to the 6th Reserve Battalion after being commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant

 

Dec 1, 1917

Married to Florence May Donohue

 

Jan 26, 1918

Attached to the Canadian Infantry War School to attend the 11th Course

 

Feb 22, 1918

Rejoined the 6th Reserve Battalion in Seaford on completion of the course

 

Mar 2, 1918

Admitted to the West Cliff Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkestone with a diagnosis that reads Nasal Obstruction

 

Mar 16, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

 

Jun 3, 1918

Transferred to the 21st Battalion

 

Jun 4, 1918

Arrived at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st Battalion

 

Jun 7, 1918

After leaving the base depot, Fred Johnstone joined the CC Rein C (Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Aubin St. Vaast, France

 

Aug 13, 1918

After leaving the reinforcement camp, Lieut Johnstone joined the 21st Battalion rear details in Marcelcave, France and was posted to “D” Company

 

Aug 15, 1918

Lieut Johnstone left the battalion’s rear details and joined “D” Company at the front near Fouquescourt

 

Aug 26, 1918

Just 10 days after joining the battalion, during the night of the 25th/26th, the 21st Battalion advanced on the Cojeul River near the town of Wancourt, France, Lieut Johnstone received shrapnel wounds to his head (right temple).  He was evacuated to a field ambulance for first aid before being transported to a casualty clearing station

 

Aug 27, 1918

Transferred to the No. 20 General Hospital in Camiers where surgery was performed to remove 2 pieces of shrapnel from his head

 

Aug 29, 1918

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Princess Elizabeth

 

On arrival in England he was admitted to the Horton County of London War Hospital in Epsom

Transferred to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot for pay purposes while in hospital

 

Oct 4, 1918

Transferred to the Matlock Officer’s Convalescent Hospital in Bath

 

Oct 17, 1918

Discharged from hospital and attached to the CTS (Canadian Training School) in Bexhill for duty

 

Nov 28, 1918

Ceased to be attached and rejoined the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford

 

Dec 7, 1918

Embarked the SS Olympic in Southampton along with his wife Florence

 

 

Dec 14, 1918

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia

 

Dec 30, 1918

Discharged from the CEF on Ottawa, Ontario

Ø  Rank on discharge Lieutenant

Ø  Entitled to War Service Badge Class “A”

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Campbellford, Ontario

Following his discharge, the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Box 1191, Pembroke, Ontario

Lieutenant Johnstone joined the 42nd Lanark and Renfrew Regiment and rose to be Second in Command.

Following his retirement from the 42nd Regiment, when WW2 broke out, he joined the 2nd Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders with the rank of Private to serve with the Home Guard in Ottawa

 

Jul 8, 1955

Fred Johnstone died of Cancer at his home, 41 Grosvenor Ave., Ottawa, Ontario and was buried in the Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa

 


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