244513 Pte. Howard Clifford Johnston Canadian Expeditionary Force 31st Battalion from:Innisfail Alberta, Canada The following information was gleaned from a pocket diary, service records, the History of the 31st Battalion C.E.F., and letters & postcards.
After the Canadians succeeded in taking Hill 70, a strategic high ground overlooking Lens France, from the Germans in August of 1917, the 31st Battalion was brought to the hill to hold it against German counter attacks.
On 27th of September 1917 during an intense night of shelling, Pte Howard Johnston was buried in his trench when an exploding shell caused the trench to collapse. He was dug out and sent back to an aid station. After a few hours of recovery time Howard was sent back up to the line.
Howard was in a forward bombing post around 11:30 that night with three others when a shell fell among them. The other three were killed, but on the 28th Howard found himself in the 5th Field Ambulance. The following day, the 29th, he was in the 39th Stationary Hospital.
On October 24th, he was transferred by train to the 2nd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Outreau.
Finally on November 1st, Howard's diary states, "Marked for Eng. Hooray!" and on the 2nd, "Start for Eng 6:30". Records show he arrived at 1st Western General Hospital in Liverpool on 4th November 1917, where he remained until he was relocated to the Convalescent Camp in Epsom on December 15th.
His diagnosis included, Rheumatism, Sev Q, Shell Shock, Perforated left eardrum
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