Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

THE LATE COLONEL LYON JOHNSTON
Colonel James Lyon John ston, former chairman of the Licensing Bench and. former Mayor of Boulder, and commandant of the original 11th Battalion, died early today at St. John of God Hospital Belmont. Born at Aberdeen, Scotland, on May 5, 1863, he received his education at his native town. At .the age of 18 years he went to Cape Town to engage in business. After a short while he continued on to India where he remained for seven years, visiting all parts of the country and gaining an intimate knowledge of all the native States. He left India in 1890 with the intention of settling down in Aberdeen, but after a few years there he sailed for South Australia. In Adelaide he engaged in commercial pursuits, but the boom of Coolgardie's prosperity drew him to Western Australia  where he joined the 'Old Camp' and began business as a sharebroker. In 1909 he was appointed secretary of the Boulder Racing Club, holding that office for many years. He also served as a councillor and Mayor of Boulder.  When the Licensing Court was established by the Government in 1923 he was appointed a member of it together with Wardens Owens and Gibbons. He afterwards served as chairman of the Licensing Board. Because of the age regulation he retired, but later the Government sought his services as a member of the board during the temporary absence of Mr. E. H. Barker.
KEEN MILITARY MAN
All through his life he had been in terested in the volunteer military movement. He saw service with the Gordon Highlanders in Scotland, in South Africa with another Scottish regiment, where he was appointed N.C.O., and later in India with the Calcutta  Volunteer Rifles. With Mr. C. R. Davis, a solicitor, he inaugurated the volunteer company on the goldfields. He was commanding officer of the original 11th Battalion in the Great War. For a time during his service on Gallipoli he acted as Brigadier-General of the Third Brigade. Invalided to Ertgland, he commanded the Australian training camp at Weymouth and later at Rollestone. His war services earned for him the C.M.G., the Volunteer Officers' Long Service decoration and mention in despatches.
The late Colonel Lyon Johnston is survived by his wife, one son — Dr. Boulder Lyon Johnston (London) — and one daughter, Mrs. J. L. McComish, of Kununoppin. One son predeceased him. The funeral will take place tomorrow at Karrakatta. It will be preceded by a Requiem Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral at 9 a.m., the cortage being due to leave the Cathedral at 9.30 a.m. and to reach Karrakatta at 10.10 a.m. The funeral arrangements are in the hands of Messrs. Bowra and O'Dea.