Woronora Memorial Park 1 Linden Street Sutherland NSW 2232
Cemetery Address
Sutherland, NSW
Demonination/Area
Wall of Memories
Section
18 GG
Grave Number
475
Grave Type
Cremation - Niche
Notes
ABLE SEAMAN CHARLES SYKES MCINTOSH JOHNSTON 2140 RAN
Charles Johnston was born in Moss Vale NSW in January 1897 and was a member of the second intake of boys on HMAS Tingira as a Boy 2nd Class. He was advanced to Boy 1st Class in July 1913, before posting to the Battle Cruiser HMAS Australia in October 1913. He was advanced to Ordinary Seaman 2nd Class in January 1914 but deserted three months later.
In September 1914, after the outbreak of war, Charles availed himself of the amnesty granted to deserters and turned himself in. He was initially posted to Cerberus where he was advanced to Ordinary Seaman before a posting to the reactivated Protected Cruiser HMAS Psyche. Whilst serving in Psyche he was advanced to Able Seaman. After a brief posting to Tingira in late 1917 he travelled to the UK to join the Light Cruiser HMAS Melbourne. Melbourne arrived back in Sydney in May 1919 and within a month Charles was discharged “Services No Longer Required”.
In 1923 Charles married Ida Smythe in Kogarah NSW. In the early 1930s he was farming in the Riverina near Rankin Springs however by 1937 his fortunes had changed and the couple had moved back to Sydney and Charles was working as a Labourer.
Charles Johnston passed away on the 20th of August 1977, he was cremated at Woronora in Sydney and his ashes interred in the Wall of Memories 18 GG, 475.
