Coming Soon.
JOHNSTONE, Thomas Watt
Personal Details
| Service Numbers: | 847, Commissioned Officer, N78131 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 September 1914, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Armadale, Victoria, 17 July 1890 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Gold Street State School, Melbourne |
| Occupation: | Shop assistant |
| Died: | Natural causes (heart attack/pneumonia), Concord, New South Wales, 20 June 1967, aged 76 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Service History
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 |
|---|
Personal Stories
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
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