John Arthur Johnston
John Arthur Johnston was born 15 February 1892 in Verulam Township, ON. He was the oldest son of 6 children (1 girl, 5 boys) of John and Anna Johnston of Verulam Township, ON. Arthur married Kathleen Moon in 1914, and they had a son, Francis Marley, that same year. After Arthur’s death, Kathleen remarried with John Lowe Adams and is shown on the 1921 census with Francis and a younger half-brother, Theodore.
On 6 December 1915, Arthur enlisted in Lindsay ON with the 109th Battalion, and 3 weeks later his younger brother William James would do the same. Arthur was transferred to the 21st Battalion, and William the 20th Battalion. William would go on to be wounded twice and suffered injuries due to being gassed on the front line but would live through the war to be demobilized.
Less than 2 months before he was killed in action, Arthur was promoted to acting Lance Corporal. The period of April to August was a very busy time for the 20th Battalion, taking part in the major battles of Vimy Ridge and the capture of Fresnoy. In August 1917, they found themselves outside of Lens and focused on the capture of Hill 70 as part of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Arthur was killed in action on 15 August 1917, which was considered the first day of the Battle of Hill 70. The 20th Battalion war diary notes the start of this day:
“The time of zero had been notified as 4:25am and at this hour our barrage of hundreds of guns, howitzers, and machine guns opened up on the German positions for miles on the now famous battle front North West of Lens. The Boche who resisted were disposed of and our assaulting waves, accurately keeping their direction, following our barrage, continued their advance to and captured his second line, and then onto the final objective – Chicory and Commotion trenches.” His body was never recovered, and the exact circumstances of his death are not known.
Arthur Johnston’s name is on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, which honours all Canadians who served during the First World War and bears the names of those who died in France with no known grave. He was 25 years old.
