1066011 Pte. Percy Saveright Johnstone was born on April 14th, 1898, in the small village of Balaclava, Grey County, Ontario. By the time hostilities broke out Percy was living in Owen Sound working as a butcher. He attested to the 248th Battalion there on December 6th, 1916.
Billeted at home over the winter the 248th mobilized in Owen Sound on May 4th, 1917, to finalize administrative details before the unit sailed for England.
Upon arrival the 248th Battalion ceased to exist when it was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion, whose task it was to supply reinforcements to the 58th Battalion and the 4th C.M.R. Percy was taken on strength of the 4th C.M.R. on November 11th, 1917.
Serving with the unit through the winter of 1917 and the battles of the Final 100 days, Private Johnstone survived the war without receiving any physical injuries. Sailing home with the unit he participated in the parade through the streets of Toronto, to the University Armoury and then to the demobilization centre located in the Toronto Exhibition grounds.
1066011 Private Percy Saveright Johnstone was stuck off strength of the 4th C.M.R. on March 20th, 1919. His service is remembered locally, in Owen Sound, on a plaque located in the Georgian Shores United Church.
Biography credit: George Auer, with thanks.