Canadian Virtual War Memorial
William Arnold Johnston
In memory of:
Lieutenant William Arnold Johnston
September 23, 1943
Military Service
24
Navy
Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve
H.M.S. Itchen
Additional Information
November 25, 1918
Moncton, New Brunswick
June 17, 1940
Son of Frank A. and Eudaviela Waters Johnston, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Husband of Katherine M. Johnston, of Charlottetown.
Commemorated on Page 175 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
HALIFAX MEMORIAL
Nova Scotia, Canada
Panel 9.
The HALIFAX MEMORIAL in Nova Scotia's capital, erected in Point Pleasant Park, is one of the few tangible reminders of the men who died at sea. Twenty-four ships were lost by the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War and nearly 2,000 members of the RCN lost their lives. This Memorial was erected by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was unveiled in November 1967 with naval ceremony by H.P. MacKeen, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in the presence of R. Teillet, then Minister of Veterans Affairs. The monument is a great granite Cross of Sacrifice over 12 metres high, clearly visible to all ships approaching Halifax. The cross is mounted on a large podium bearing 23 bronze panels upon which are inscribed the names of over 3,000 Canadian men and women who were buried at sea. The dedicatory inscription, in French and English, reads as follows:
1918-1945
IN THE HONOUR OF
THE MEN AND WOMEN
OF THE NAVY
ARMY AND MERCHANT NAVY
OF CANADA
WHOSE NAMES
ARE INSCRIBED HERE
THEIR GRAVES ARE UNKNOWN
BUT THEIR MEMORY
SHALL ENDURE.
On June 19, 2003, the Government of Canada designated September 3rd of each year as a day to acknowledge the contribution of Merchant Navy Veterans.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Details
Photo of William Johnston – Johnston, William Arnold - Lieutenant, R.C.N.V.R. Born 25th November, 1918, at Moncton, N.B. Educated at West Kent School and Prince of Wales College, Charlottetown, P.E.I. Entered the service of the Bank 11th April, 1938. Served at Charlottetown. Signed for Officers' Training Course in England, but school being closed on evacuation of Dunkirk, qualified at Charlotetown. Probationary Sub-Lieutenant 17th June, 1940. Called to active service 2nd November, 1940. Sub-Lieutenant in May, 1941. Lieutenant 17th June, 1942. Trained at Halifax. Instructor at Charlotte. town. Served in Corvette H.M.C.S. CHARLOTTETOWN on North Atlantic Triangle Run. Torpedoed 11th August, 1942, but he survived. He took the Anti-Submarine (Asdic) Course at Halifax and served in Corvette H.M.C.S. TRILLIUM until April, 1943. He was transferred to British Frigate H.M.S. ITCHEN as Senior Asdic Officer. Reported missing when H.M.S. ITCHEN was torpedoed in North Atlantic 2Oth/21St September, 1943. Officially presumed dead October, 1943. From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce. -
Details
Press clipping – In this press clipping, Lieutenant Gordon De Blois mentions the loss of his friend Bill Johnston.
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