Veteran Robert Johnson...

Robert Johnson was enlisted in the Army in the year 1939 when he was just 19 years old. He left home and for two years remained in the Army. Until one day he ran into an old friend who suggested he enlist in the Royal Airforce, something he’d wanted to do since before enlisting in the Army. When Robert’s friend presented this idea he was thrilled but didn’t think they would take him because he was in the Army. However, after several meetings Robert was enlisted as a pilot in the Royal Airforce at the age of 21. Within six weeks of being a flight officer he was asked to become flight commander of 28RAF.

Robert went two years of safe flight before he was shot down in Burma over Yaw Chaung. He landed in the territory, which belonged to the axis, so he had to hide. He hid during most of the days and would walk through most nights. He made himself a survival pack that consisted of three metal tins containing Horlicks tablets (he described them to be about the size of the tip of your finger), Benzedrine tablets, chewing gum, fish line and hooks, salt tablets, needle and thread, mepacrine tablets, water sterilizing crystals and some bandage and sulpha powder. He also possessed one bar of hard chocolate, a canvas water chargal, a flashlight with good batteries, a money belt (Indian Rupees), a magnifying glass, a metal mirror, and maps and compasses. These items are what Robert Johnson survived on for twenty-three days alone and outdoors in Burma. For the first three days he went without water. And for the rest of the trek he went with little water. With help from no other of his men he did, in fact reach safety on the twenty-third day. 

Robert described his lifestyle with his fellow troops in camps to me as “pretty punk”. As the men lived in canvas tents and food was no luxury either. There food was often powdered and rainy nights rather damp.

One war souvenir in particular that Robert showed me and was especially proud of was his Captains Log Book. The book itself was not what he was so proud of as much as a particular entry. The entry was a letter from Air Commodore, Air Officer Commanding, No.221 Group, ROYAL AIR FORCE. This was praise from some one of higher ranking than he. In the letter, the phrase “is worthy of the highest praise” is used when speaking about Mr. Johnson.

Rebecca Gallant, Grade 11, TOSH