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Robert Walton Johnstone

A Major with the 2nd Battalion, Robert died on 27th of October 1942 aged 30.

Robert was born at Lowestoft in 1912, a son of James and Emma Johnstone. In 1921 his family lived at 88 Denmark Road. Robert was educated at Harrow. Later his parents lived at Homedale, Bungay Road, Loddon. 

Before the war Robert lived at Wodehouse, Headley, Bordon, Hampshire. He managed the Baldpate Poultry Farm and was a member of Headley Cricket Club. 

Robert enlisted in the Army on 21 July 1939. He joined The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), service number 6091724. Robert attended 161st (Royal Military College) Officer Cadet Training Unit at Aldershot and, on 11 May 1940, was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with the Seaforth Highlander, service number 130600. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion. He was appointed War Substantive Lieutenant on 1 October 1940 and Temporary Captain on the same date.  

In August 1942 the 2nd Battalion landed at Egypt. The battalion, as part of 152 Brigade, took up positions on the Mena-Cairo Road defending the western approaches to Cairo. In preparation for the Battle of El Alamein the battalion moved into defensive ‘boxes’ 25 miles east of El Alamein and the attack began on the night of 23/24 October. On 24 October the battalion attacked a strongpoint known as ‘Stirling’ and suffered significant losses during the next 24 hours.  

Robert died of wounds. 

His brother James served with the Royal Sussex regiment and died in 1918. 

Lived at

Robert Johnstone
88
Denmark Road
Lowestoft
United Kingdom

52.475092861304, 1.7460112685523

CountryOfService
United Kingdom
BranchService
Army
Regiment
Seaforth Highlanders
ServiceNumber
130600
Burial/Memorial
Egypt
EL ALEMEIN WAR CEMETERY
XI. C. 3.

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