War service: Egypt, Western Front

Admitted to No 1 Australian Dermatological Hospital, Abbassia, 9 February 1916 (venereal disease); discharged to Overseas Base, Abbassia, 19 March 1916: total period of treatment: 40 days.

Joined 54th Bn, Ferry Post, 21 April 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916.

Reported missing, 20 July 1916.

Name extracted from list of dead whose pay books were handed to German authorities by Geneva Red Cross. To be reported as killed in action, 20 July 1916, on the authority of the Assistant Adjutant General, ANZAC Section, 3rd Echelon, General Headquarters, 24 November 1916.

On 8 September 1921 Base Records wrote to the mother of Private Johnston, Mrs E. Johnston, asking if she had received any correspondence about the circumstances surrounding his death. The only evidence on file was an extract she received around November 1916 that stated, 'I heard he was taken wounded prisoner in the Battle of Pozieres between the 19th and 20th of July 1916.'

Translation of German report, 29 October 1919, 'Pay-book was handed over by Intell: Officer with 6th Army H.Q. 17/8/16. Documentary Distinguishing Marks, 334.8.16.Z.N. Australian Pte. C.D. Johnston, 54th Bn. fell in the neighbourhood of Fromelles.'

Statement, Red Cross File No 1450502, 4866 Pte L. PRICE, 54th Bn (patient, Queen's Hospital, Birmingham, England), 3 September 1916: 'Informant states that on July 19th about 3 p.m. south of Armentieres he saw Pte Johnston fall wounded in front of the German barbed wire. The trenches were afterwards taken by the Australians and Johnston should have been found.'

Note on Red Cross File: 'Identity disc received from Germany and despatched to Next of Kin 24/1/17.'

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal