Robert JOHNSTON

Regimental number46723
Date of birth17 March 1887
Place of birthAtchisons Siding
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationLabourer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation29
Height5' 9"
Weight154 lbs
Next of kinStepmother, Mrs H Fridd, Post Office, Awamoko
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date16 December 1916
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 25th Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Regiment, D Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT Tofua on 26 April 1917
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 11 March 1919
Discharge date28 May 1919
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 28 April 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 20 July 1917, and marched in to 4th Reserve Bn, Sling Camp.

Proceeded overseas to France, 5 September 1917; joined 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 23 October 1917, and posted to 10th Company.

Found guilty, 31 October 1917, of being absent from billet after 7.30 pm: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2, and forfeited 7 days' pay (gross).

Detached to Headquarters, 2 NZ Brigade, 28 November 1917; rejoined Bn from detachment.

Detached to 3rd NZ Field Company Engineers, 3 January 1918; rejoined Bn from detachment, 7 January 1918.

Admitted to No 1 NZ Field Ambulance, 22 September 1918 (inflamed knee); transferred to No 2 NZ Field Ambulance, 26 September 1918; to 59th Casualty Clearing Station, 27 September 1917; to Ambulance Train No 36, 28 September 1918, and admitted to No 5 General Hospital, Rouen, 29 September 1918; transferred to England, 30 September 1918, and admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 1 October 1918.

Commenced return to New Zealand on board HMNZT 'Raranga', 11 March 1919; disembarked Newport, Nova Scotia, Canada, 25 March 1919; re-embarked, 29 March 1919; discharged, 28 May 1919.

Total war service: 2 years 164 days (of which 2 years 5 days were abroad).

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsParents: Robert (b. Scotland) and Harriet (b. England) JOHNSTON
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 62, p. 14
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805