In 1901 the Johnston family were living at The Square, Main Street, Methven, Perthshire: Father, Alexander (Baker) (34); Mother, Annie (37); Son, Alexander (10); Daughter, Mary T. (8); Son, James (7); Son, Charles (5); Daughter, Janet (1); and Son, William J. (6months). Also living at this address was Annie Johnston’s sister, Janet Milligan (47).

Charles Johnston was born in Methven on 1st August 1895. He was educated at Perth Academy, and in November 1911, he went to work for the Royal Bank of Scotland as an apprentice, at its Perth Branch.

He enlisted in Edinburgh on the 10th September 1914 with the 4th Battalion, Royal Scots. The 1/4th Battalion (Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles) The Royal Scots, assembled at Larbert, Stirlingshire during May 1915. On 22nd May they travelled by train to Liverpool where they boarded the R.M.S. Empress of Britain.

They travelled via Gibraltar and Malta arriving at Alexandria, Egypt on 3rd June. After a rest period they again embarked on the Empress of Britain to travel to the Greek Island of Lemnos, arriving on 11th June. The following afternoon they sailed for Helles and landed at ‘W’ beach (also known as Lancashire Landing).

After a period of time digging communication trenches and acclimatisation, they received orders to move up to the front at Gully Ravine. At 9 a.m. precisely on 28th June, seventy five British Artillery guns, supported by guns of warships firing from offshore, begun their bombardment of the enemy’s positions.

Two hours later the bombardment abruptly ended and shortly afterwards the Scottish Territorials, spurred on by their regimental pipers, went over the top for the first time. Unknown to the “Jocks” the bombardment had little effect on the courage and determination of the Turkish troops in the position atop Fir Tree Spur.

By the evening of the 28th June the British had suffered some four thousand casualties and, with the exception of the positions on Gully Spur, no progress had been made. Charles Johnston would have lost his life at some stage of this action and, having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial. He was 20 years old.

Charles Johnston is also commemorated on the Methven Parish War Memorial; the Methven United Presbyterian Church War Memorial; and the Royal Bank of Scotland War Memorial, Edinburgh.