Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Norm Johnston enlisted in the A.I.F. in April, 1940. His regiment went to England, where many casualties were suffered during air raids in the Battle for Britain.
After being transferred to the Middle East the unit saw action in Egypt, and was transferred to Greece, where “Johnno” was wounded.
While in hospital at Katinia he was captured on April 27, 1941, and transferred to Salonika.
Subsequently he was moved to Thorn, on the Vistula River, near Warsaw, a trip which normally took six days, occupied 18 days, in a cattle truck. This journey was one of his worst experiences.
It was about nine months before Red Cross parcels were received. He says that they assisted greatly to keep the prisoners in reasonably good condition. Each parcel contained a wonderful assortment of foodstuffs necessary for a well-balanced diet. Prisoners also received 50 cigarettes weekly from the Red Cross. He also received a number of parcels from his wife and the Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club.
During his internment at Thorn he was working in a beet sugar factory.
Every fortnight he was the auctioneer at sales of surplus items belonging to the prisoners, the currency being cigarettes.
He was repatriated, and left Thorn on January 8, and was exchanged, after a six days’ train journey, for a German prisoner, on the Swiss border.
From Geneva he travelled to Marseilles, then to England.
He stayed at Eastbourne for one month, where the people gave the ex-prisoners of war a wonderful time.
He returned to Australia via the Panama Canal, and arrived in Sydney on April 9.
“As far as British prisoners of war are concerned,” he said, “they are treated as well as can be expected. The Russians do not get the same treatment, largely because they do not come under the Red Cross. Russia does not subscribe to the Red Cross. German prisoners in Russia are unable to write home or receive Red Cross parcels. The Russian prisoners in Germany are treated likewise.”
While in Poland, Pte. Johnston saw a mass grave in which many thousands of Russians, who had been wounded and died from frostbite, were buried.
“I am satisfied,” he said, “after seeing all the places in various parts of the world, that there is no place like Australia.” – Copy of a newspaper cutting from Norm Johnston’s scrapbook. Publication and issue date unknown. - Submitted by John Johnston