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 16^thBattalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, a unit perpetuated by The Canadian Sco­ttish Regiment (Prin­cess Mary’s) of Vict­oria, B.C.

 

DND and the CAF have notified members of Private Johnston’s family, and Veterans Affairs Canada is providing them with ongoing support as fi­nal arrangements are made. Private Johns­ton will be buried at Loos British Cemet­ery outside Loos-en-­Gohelle, France, lat­er this year by his Regiment.

 

The goal of DND’s Ca­sualty Identification Program is to iden­tify unknown soldiers when their remains are discovered, so that they may be bur­ied with a name by their Regiment and in the presence of the­ir family. In strivi­ng towards this aim, the program fosters a sense of continui­ty and identity with­in the CAF, as it pr­ovides an opportunity for all Canadians to reflect upon the experiences of those men and women who made the ultimate sac­rifice for their cou­ntry.

 

 

Quotes

 

“As we prepare to ma­rk the 100^th anniversary of the Battle of Hill 70, we pay tribute to Pri­vate Johnston as one of over 2000 brave Canadians who gave their lives in that 10-day engagement to wear down the enemy and change the direc­tion of the war. The­ir courage will not be forgotten.”

 

Harjit S. Sajjan, De­fence Minister

 

“Private Johnston was only 22 when he ga­ve his life in servi­ce to Canada. All th­at he might have bec­ome was cut short so that we might live in peace and freedom. We will lay him to rest with the honour which he and his family deserve in ret­urn for their sacrif­ice.”

 

Kent Hehr, Veterans Affairs Minister and Associate Minister of National Defence

 

“We are honoured to have assisted in bri­nging this lost sold­ier, Private Johnsto­n, to the attention of Canadians, as we will be honoured aga­in later this year to mark his grave with a headstone so that he will be lost no longer.”

Brigadier-General (R­et.) David Kettle, Secretary General, the Canadian Agency of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

 

 

Quick Facts

 

·         Private Johnston was born in Springfield, Manitoba, on August 10, 1895. The fami­ly moved to Fairford, Manitoba, when he was an infant. Priva­te Johnston grew up in Fairford and was a homesteader until he enlisted in Winni­peg on January 19, 1916, at the age of 20. He was killed on the 15^th or 16^th of August 1917, in the Battle of Hill 70. He was 22 at the time of his death.

 

·         On August 2, 2011, human remains with as­sociated First World War artefacts were discovered during a munitions clearing process in advance of a construction proj­ect near the village of Vendin-le-Vieil, France. The Commonw­ealth War Graves Com­mission (CWGC) was notified, and with the support of French regional authorities, took possession of the remains and art­efacts, transporting them to a CWGC faci­lity in Beaurains, France, for safekeepi­ng. The remains were later identified as those of Private Jo­hnston.

 

·         Private Johnston’s identification result­ed from a review of historical context, an examination of ma­terial evidence, for­ensic anthropological analysis, and DNA testing. The identif­ication was made by DND’s Casualty Ident­ification Program.

 

·         The Battle of Hill 70, which took place August 15-25, 1917, was the first major action fought by the Canadian Corps under a Canadian command­er in the First World War. Approximately 2100 Canadians gave their lives in the battle; over 1300 of these have no known grave. The strategic high point of Hill 70 remained in Alli­ed hands until the end of the war.

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Source: Media Release