Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Inscription – 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)

Vimy Memorial – 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)

Photo of 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

Map – 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.

Map – 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.

Document – 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.

Circumstances of Death Registers – 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.

Photo of REGINALD JOSEPH WINFIELD JOHNSTON – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of Reginald Joseph Winfield Johnston