The AIF Project

Thomas Valentine JOHNSTONE

Regimental number1540
Place of birthChicago, USA
ReligionRoman Catholic
OccupationLabourer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation25.10
Height5' 9"
Weight182 lbs
Next of kinFather, John Johnstone, Chicago, Ill, USA
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date30 December 1914
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name14th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/31/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray on 2 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll14th Battalion
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularEnlisted 30 December 1914
FateKilled in Action 8 August 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Age at death26
Age at death from cemetery records26
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 73), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign), 12 April 1915.

Reported missing, 7 August 1915.

Court of Enquiry, 6-8-28 April 1916, concluded: 'Killed in action, 8 August 1915.'

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, JOHNSTONE Thomas Valentine

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