Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of Joseph William Johnston and Margaret Jane Garriock (formerly Johnston).
Digital gallery of Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
Digital gallery of
Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
Digital gallery of
Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
Canada's Vimy Memorial, located approximately 8 kilometres to the north-east of Arras, France. May the sacrifice of so many never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)
Digital gallery of
Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
His name as it is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial. Over 11,000 fallen Canadians having no known place of burial in France, are honoured on this Memorial. May they never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)
Digital gallery of
Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have identified the remains of a First World War soldier found near the village of Vendin-le-Vieil, France, as those of Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston of Fairford, Manitoba. Private Johnston was a member of the 16th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, a unit perpetuated by The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) of Victoria, B.C.
Private Johnston will be buried at Loos British Cemetery outside Loos-en-Gohelle, France, later this year by his Regiment.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2017/05/canadian_first_worldwarsoldierfoundinfranceandidentified.html
Digital gallery of
Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
The community of Vendin-le-Vieil, where the remains were located, as at 50°28'30.56" 2°51'56.07"E, to the northwest of Loos-en-Gohelle. The 16th Battalion was on the right flank (through Bois Base) of the 3rd Infantry Brigade attack, with the 13th in the middle and the 15th on the left (through Bois Hugo). That would put them in the vicinity of a path from 36c.H.31.a.2.2 to 36c.H.32.a.4.7, or 50.4590, 2.8076 to 50.4612, 2.8217. On Google it appears that Bois Base is still in existence and that the industrial site is on the north border. That would be along Humbug Alley up to Hugo Trench.
Digital gallery of
Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
Google Earth image of the site where Private Johnston's remains were recovered in the summer of 2011. This was not reported on the CBC on May 8, 2017 (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dnd-reginald-joseph-winfield-johnston-vendin-le-vieil-france-1.4104816). The article states "The bones of Pte. Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston were discovered during a munitions clearing process at a construction site in the village of Vendin-le-Vieil, according to the Department of National Defence." Final identification was made by DNA analysis of the candidate soldiers relatives.
Digital gallery of
Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
The E-13 file for Private Reginald Johnston shows that he had no record of a known grave or battlefield burial. He was reported wounded and then killed in action.
Digital gallery of
Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
The Circumstance of Death file for Private Reginald Johnston shows that he was killed in action during the attack in the vicinity of Loos on the 15th or 16th of August 1917.
Digital gallery of
Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Image gallery
-
-
Canada's Vimy Memorial, located approximately 8 kilometres to the north-east of Arras, France. May the sacrifice of so many never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)
-
His name as it is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial. Over 11,000 fallen Canadians having no known place of burial in France, are honoured on this Memorial. May they never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)
-
The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have identified the remains of a First World War soldier found near the village of Vendin-le-Vieil, France, as those of Private Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston of Fairford, Manitoba. Private Johnston was a member of the 16th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, a unit perpetuated by The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) of Victoria, B.C. Private Johnston will be buried at Loos British Cemetery outside Loos-en-Gohelle, France, later this year by his Regiment. https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2017/05/canadian_first_worldwarsoldierfoundinfranceandidentified.html
-
The community of Vendin-le-Vieil, where the remains were located, as at 50°28'30.56" 2°51'56.07"E, to the northwest of Loos-en-Gohelle. The 16th Battalion was on the right flank (through Bois Base) of the 3rd Infantry Brigade attack, with the 13th in the middle and the 15th on the left (through Bois Hugo). That would put them in the vicinity of a path from 36c.H.31.a.2.2 to 36c.H.32.a.4.7, or 50.4590, 2.8076 to 50.4612, 2.8217. On Google it appears that Bois Base is still in existence and that the industrial site is on the north border. That would be along Humbug Alley up to Hugo Trench.
-
Google Earth image of the site where Private Johnston's remains were recovered in the summer of 2011. This was not reported on the CBC on May 8, 2017 (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/dnd-reginald-joseph-winfield-johnston-vendin-le-vieil-france-1.4104816). The article states "The bones of Pte. Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston were discovered during a munitions clearing process at a construction site in the village of Vendin-le-Vieil, according to the Department of National Defence." Final identification was made by DNA analysis of the candidate soldiers relatives.
-
The E-13 file for Private Reginald Johnston shows that he had no record of a known grave or battlefield burial. He was reported wounded and then killed in action.
-
The Circumstance of Death file for Private Reginald Johnston shows that he was killed in action during the attack in the vicinity of Loos on the 15th or 16th of August 1917.
-
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 264 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
Request this page
Download this page
LOOS BRITISH CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France
Loos (Loos-en-Gohelle) is a village to the north of the road from Lens to Bethune. From Lens, take the N43 towards Bethune. Arriving at Loos, turn right at CWGC sign post. The LOOS BRITISH CEMETERY is about 1 kilometre from Loos Church in the southern part of the village.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
Did we miss something?
Contribute information to this commemorative page
Do you have photographs, information or a correction relating to this individual’s virtual memorial? Learn more about the CVWM and the information we collect.