Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From: In Remembrance: Hungerford and Associated Families in the Great War 1914-1918

JOHNSTON, George William,
Regimental Number:   1057
Unit Name:   6th Light Horse Regiment, 6th Reinforcement

Religion:   Church of England  

Occupation:   Station Hand  

Address:   Mother, Mrs. Isobel Johnston, c/- J. B. Newman, Commonwealth Bank, Tamworth, NSW

Age of Enlistment:   28 years and 7 months

Enlistment Date and Place:   30 April 1915, Liverpool, NSW

Next of Kin:   Mother, Mrs. Isobel Johnston, c/- J. B. Newman, Commonwealth Bank, Tamworth, NSW

Rank on Enlistment:   Private  

Embarkation Details:   Unit embarked from Sydney, NSW, on board HMAT A65 Clan McEwen, on 28 June 1915

Rank from Nominal Roll:   Sergeant

Unit from Nominal Roll:   6th Light Horse Regiment

Campaigns Served:   Gallipoli; Egypt

War Service/Promotions:   Joined and Taken on Strength at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, 2 October 1915. On 25 December 1915 disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt, from HMT Beltana. Marched out to Serapeum, Egypt, on 23  February 1916. On 25 September 1916 he passed 18th Machine Gun School (distinguished) 6th Light Horse Regiment at Zeitoun, Egypt. Attended Machine Gun course on 6 October 1916. Acting Corporal on 18 November 1916. Proceeded to School of Instruction, Abu Shunnar, Palestine, on 6 March 1917, rejoining regiment on 18 March 1917. After 3 periods in rest camp in June, July and September, he rejoined his regiment on 16 September 1917 at Kazar. He was marked out to Cadre 2 LHR on 26 September 1917 and then Taken on Strength the next day. On 5 February 1918 he was transferred to the 6th Light Horse Training Regiment, then back to the 2nd the next day. Sick to 14th Australian General Hospital, Port Said, Egypt, on 24 March 1918, with laceration to ear, being accidentally injured when struck by horse's hoof while lying asleep. From here to rest camp on 8 May 1918, then on 22 May 1918 marched out to Moascar, Egypt, and Taken on Strength back in the 2nd LH Training Regiment. Transferred to 6th on 6 June 1918, then back to the 2nd on the 10 June 1918. To be Temporary Sergeant on 10 August 1918, reverting to Corporal on 26 August 1918. To 14 Australian General Hospital on 10 September 1918. To Anzac Training Regiment on 24 October 1918, then marched out to the 6th Light Horse on 28 October, rejoining his regiment the next day. Appointed Temporary Sergeant on 1 November 1918. Appointed Sergeant on 18 January 1919, Rafa, North Sinai, Egypt. Marched out to Moascar, Egypt, on 5 March 1919. Embarked for United Kingdom from Port Said, Egypt on 12 April 1919 on HT Caledonia, for leave. Then from 14 June 1919 to 14 September 1919 he was allowed non-military employment, at Galashiels Mills, Galashiels, Scotland, completing a course in Wool-Classing.

Fate:   Returned to Australia per HT Devon, on 8 October 1919, disembarking 27 November 1919. He married Kathleen Hungerford, 12 March 1926, St Augustine's Church, Neutral Bay, NSW.

Place of Wounding:   Ear laceration, 24 March 1918, Egypt.

Place of Death:   11 June 1970, Tweed District Hospital, Murwillumbah, NSW

Place of Cremation:   Mt. Thompson Crematorium, Holland Park, Qld; Wall 12, Section 2, Position 111