JOHNSTONE, Thomas Watt
| Service Numbers: | 847, Commissioned Officer, N78131 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1914, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Armadale, Victoria, Australia, 17 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Gold Street State School, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Shop assistant |
| Died: | Natural causes (heart attack/pneumonia), Concord, New South Wales, Australia, 20 June 1967, aged 76 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Sep 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 847, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 847, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 847, 8th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 5 Sep 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 26 Feb 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 9 Apr 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 27 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, Commissioned Officer, 8th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres | |
| 27 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 24 Feb 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
| 8 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Commissioned Officer, 8th Infantry Battalion, "The Last Hundred Days" | |
| 9 Jan 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 8th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 20 Aug 1940: | Enlisted N78131 |
|---|
A Cobber meets the King
Lieutenant Thomas Watt Johnstone won the Military Cross in "recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in the field" on 9th and 11th August 1918 at Rosieres and Lihons. He was presented with his medal, at a ceremony on June 10th 1919, by King George V personally.
The local newspaper, The Leicester Daily Mercury, reported "Lieutenant Johnstone was given a special word by the King, who asked him if he were soon going back to Australia."
Thomas' response was not recorded, but seven days later he married May Wood at St Nicholas church, Leicester. Thomas and May are my grandparents.
Submitted 3 February 2017 by Douglas Johnstone
Biography contributed by Aubrey Bairstow
Thomas Watt Johnstone was a 25 year old clerk when he enlisted in September 1914.
He embarked from Australia in October 1914 and landed in the second wave at Gallipoli where he was promoted to Lance Corporal. He embarked for France in March 1916 and was promoted to Temporary Sergeant and then Sergeant at the same time.
Thomas was wounded in action in France on 30 June 1916, suffering a gun shot wound to the thigh. He was evacuated to England and was not returned to France until mid October 1916.
In June 1917 Thomas was selected for training as an officer, being commissioned in October 1917.
He returned to France in October 1917. In February 1918 he was temporarily attached to 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps. He was appointed 8 Bn Intelligence Officer in April 1918. In September he was attached to 2nd American Army.
He was awarded the Military Cross in February 1919 . The citation from August 1918 states
” For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack North of Rozieres on the 9/8/18.
Lieut Johnstone as Battalion Intelligence Officer did invaluable work throughout the operation, reconnoitring forward under heavy machine gun fire, maintaining direction and establishing liaison with flanking units.
When the line was held up by fierce direct machine gun fire, this officer moved across the whole front, assisting to link companies up. He then went forward at great personal risk and located the position of the German machine guns that were firing into out advance and checking it. Returning to our lines he assisted to organise parties to mop up, going with the parties himself and directing them as to the best means of approach and attack. He seemed to be ubiquitous and his work which was of an extremely dangerous nature, was of the utmost value to his commanding officer and the company commanders in the attack.
During the attack on Lihons on the 11/8/18 Lieut Johnstone again distinguished himself by gallantry and devotion to duty. He did splendid work helping to get the battalion on the “hopping off” line successfully.
He maintained direction throughout the advance and did well as leading several storming parties on to pockets of the enemy. When the enemy counter-attack developed and the situation in portion of the line became obscure, Lieut Johnstone proceeded to the spot although the enemy had entered the line, gained a complete grip of the situation and was able to advise his CO and the company commander the location and strength of the enemy, enabling the company commander to organise his counter-attacking party and restore the situation.
Throughout the whole operation Lieut Johnstone set a splendid example of courage and devotion to duty.”
Thomas returned to Australia in August 1919. He enlisted in the 16th Garrison Battalion in August 1940. By this stage he was a 50 year old shop assistant, and was commissioned as Lieutenant, subsequently being made Captain in September 1942.
He served at Hay Prisoner of War Camp as Prisoner of War Control Officer. Hay initially held Jewish refugees before taking in Italian and eventually Japanese prisoners of war.
Thomas Watt Johnstone died in Canada Bay City, NSW in 1967.
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