JOHNSTON, Willis

NAME:                         JOHNSTON          Willis                                                                                                      DIVISIONAL UNIT:      1st Canadian Field Butchery                                                                                                                                                Canadian Army Service Corps                                                                                                          RESIDENCE:              Glen Leslie - Alberta                                                                                                                          CEMETERY:               Kortrijk (St Jan) Communal Cemetery - Kortrijk -                                                                                                                  West Vlaanderen - Belgium                                                                                                              FATHER:                     Mr. David Johnston - Glen Leslie - Alberta                                                                                      Personal:                     Height 5'  8" and weighed 145 pounds. He had a dark complexion with gray eyes and dark                                              brown hair

     Willis while in Canada was employed as a butcher and was also a Teamster. He was raised in the Presbyterian      faith.                                                                                                                                                                                     Less than two weeks following his enlistment into the Canadian Corps at Valcartier he embarks from Quebec City and Canada on October 3, 1914 and arrives overseas in Liverpool on October 15th. He proceeds to Camp Tidworth - Wiltshire and on January 31, 1915 Private Johnston transfers to the Canadian Army Service Corps. While here he transfers to the 1st Canadian Field Butchery on February 21st. On April 9th, 1915 he goes to the Canadian Army Service Corps Training Depot based at Shorncliffe - Kent and it is here on May 8th when he is appointed to the rank of Corporal. Shortly after that he embarks from England and goes overseas into France.                                                   On July 19 he is posted to No. 11 Camp of the Base Horse Transport Depot and on August 6, 1915 he rejoins the 1st Field Butchery who are in the field. The Canadian Field Butcheries were part of the line of communication troops of the Canadian Corps.                                                                                                                                                         The Field Butcheries of the Canadian Corps slaughtered and dressed animals as food for the men of the Canadian Corps. These units were always established along rail lines. These units sent food to the front on a daily basis. The animals used for food were heifers, oxen, ewe and wether. In the case of the heifers these animals were not under two years or more than four years while oxen were not under two years or older than five years. All livestock were fed and watered daily and were slaughtered at least twelve hours prior to being issued.                             Corporal Johnston contacted influenza and is admitted to No. 62 British Casualty Clearing Station on January 2, 1919 and one day later on January 3, 1919 he passes away from the effects of the influenza.