HMS Courageous, Royal Air Force (British Air Force)
Died:
17/09/1939 (Died at Sea)
Age:
24
Summary
Robert ‘Bertie’ Johnston was the second son of Mr and Mrs Robert Johnston of Tergarvil, Upperlands. He was born about 1915. From about 1930 he was in the employment of Messrs William Clark and Son Limited, of Upperlands. He was an electrician. In August 1937, he joined the joined the Royal Air Force. In August 1939, he was attached to the aircraft carrier HMS Courageous. Aircraftman Johnston was killed in action when it was torpedoed by a German submarine on the evening of 17th September 1939.
Further Information
Robert ‘Bertie’ Johnston was the second son of Mr and Mrs Robert Johnston of Tergarvil, Upperlands. He was born about 1915.
From about 1930 he was in the employment of Messrs William Clark and Son Limited, of Upperlands. He was an electrician.
Bertie was an exceptionally good footballer, and played for the local team.
He was a member of the Boy Scouts, and in 1932 dived into the water to rescue a fellow Scout, called R W Averill, saving him from drowning. He was awarded a Gilt Cross and Certificate for his heroism.
When the Upperlands Pipe Band was formed, Bertie Johnston took a keen interest and was one of the band’s first drummers.
Robert Johnston was a member of Upperlands ‘Purple Marksmen’ L.O.L. No 817.
He was a member of Culnady Presbyterian Church with which his ancestors head been connected for generations past.
In August 1937, Robert Johnston joined the joined the Royal Air Force.
In August 1939, he was attached to the aircraft carrier Courageous.
On the evening of 17th September 1939, Courageous was on patrol off the coast of Ireland. The ship was stalked for over two hours by a U-boat. The carrier then turned into the wind to launch her aircraft. This put the ship right across the bow of the submarine, which fired three torpedoes. Two of the torpedoes struck the ship on her port side. Courageous capsized and sank in 20 minutes with the loss of 519 of her crew, including her captain.
Aircraftman (1st Class) Bertie Johnston was serving on board HMS Courageous when he was killed in action on 17th September 1939.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 23rd September 1939: Upperlands
Mr Robert Johnston of Tergarvil, on Wednesday received by wire official information that his son, A.C.I, (Aircraftman 1st Class) Bertie Johnston was amongst those who had made the supreme sacrifice when the Courageous was sunk by a German submarine. Fuller details and a sketch of this young man’s career will appear in the next issue.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 23rd September 1939: Obituary – Aircraftman Bertie Johnston, Tergarvil
The tragic news on Wednesday of last week that Bertie Johnston (second son of Mr and Mrs Robert Johnston of Tergarvil), had perished when the Courageous was torpedoed by a German submarine, caused widespread sorrow in his his native district where he and his family are held in high esteem, the deceased young man being very popular in the district. Only 24 years of age, he was, for about seven years, in the employment of Messrs William Clark and Son Limited, of Upperlands, as an electrician. He was a keen athlete being an exceptionally good footballer, and played for the local team in many hard contested games. He was a patrol leader in the Upperlands troop of the Boy Scouts, being a much alive member. On 31st July 1932, while the Scouts were encamped beside one of Messrs Clark’s reservoirs he promptly, without waiting to divest himself of any clothes, jumped into the water and rescued a comrade, Mr R W Averill, from drowning. For this heroic action he was publicly honoured at a public meeting. Captain Scott, Commissioner for the North-West, attended and presented him with a Gilt Cross and Certificate. Mr A M Clark, J.P., presided, and numerous speakers expressed their appreciation of Patrol Leader Johnston’s plucky action. It should be mentio0ned that the young man whose life was saved joined His Majesty’s forces a short time ago. When the Upperlands Pipe Band was formed, the deceased took a practical interest in the project, and was one of the band’s first drummers. He was a member of Upperlands ‘Purple Marksmen’ L.O.L. No 817, and although he has been out of the district for over two years, he continued to be a liberal subscriber to the lodge funds. He was a member of Culnady Presbyterian Church with which his ancestors head been connected for generations past.
It is just two years in August last since he joined the Royal Air Force, and from the time of his enlistment he studied and worked whole-heartedly, as is evidenced by the fact that he was rated as an A.C.I. Aircraftman. About a month ago he was attached to the ill-fated aircraft carrier Courageous, and thus has had the high honour of being the first young man from this neighbourhood to make the supreme sacrifice for King and country in the present struggle of right against might.
Keen sympathy is felt in the district for his sorrowing parents, brother and sisters, in the sudden bereavement they have been called on to bear. His father was for many years W.M. of Upperlands L.O.L. 817 and also W.M. of Upperlands ‘Star of the East’ R.B.P., and is also connected with the Murray Club Apprentice Boys of Derry, and gave valued service to the Special Constabulary.
At the morning service in Culnady Presbyterian Church on Sunday, the Rev V M Corkey referred, in touching terms, to the death of A.C.I. Aircraftman Bertie Johnston. He said that it was learned that the Courageous had been sunk. There was great anxiety in the district about their late young friend’s safety, and everyone hoped he might be numbered amongst the survivors, but all their hopes were dashed when his father, on Wednesday morning, received a telegram conveying the grim and unwelcome news that his son had given his life in his country’s service. The Rev Mr Corkey spoke highly of the many splendid qualities of the deceased. He said that Bertie was a young man who always tried to improve his position and put his whole weight into everything he did, and referred to the gallant rescue he made a few years ago in saving the life of a comrade Boy Scout who was in peril of drowning. It falls the lot of this young man to be the first from their congregation and neighbourhood to sacrifice in the defence of right, liberty and freedom in the great struggle their country was waging against tyranny, oppression, aggression and might. Rev Mr Corkey concluded by expressing deep sympathy for the bereaved parents and family. The praise service embraced appropriate psalms and hymns.
Aircraftman Robert Johnston was the first person from Upperlands to be killed in World War Two.
Aircraftman Robert Johnston has no known grave and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, England.
