JOHNS, William Francis
| Service Numbers: | 64886, S69052 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 February 1918, Via 7th Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Hamley Bridge, South Australia, 23 March 1885 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Police officer |
| Memorials: | St. Peters East Adelaide Public School Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Feb 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Trooper, 64886, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Via 7th Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 'Voyage only' | |
| 16 Oct 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 64886, 7th Reinforcements. HMAT Malta. Disembarked in Suez on 22 November 1918. | |
| 20 Jul 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Trooper, 64886, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HT Oxfordshire. Disembarked in Adelaide on 10 August 1919. Reverted to rank of Trooper on 25 January 1919. | |
| 26 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Trooper, 64886, 9th Light Horse Regiment |
World War 2 Service
| 26 May 1942: | Involvement Lieutenant, S69052 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 May 1942: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
| 26 May 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lieutenant, S69052 | |
| 29 Nov 1945: | Discharged | |
| 1 Jun 1946: | Honoured Member of the Order of the British Empire, For service to the South Australia Police |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Tim Hanna
William Francis Johns was born in Hamley Bridge, South Australia on 23 March 1885. Johns joined the Police Force in 1906 and served in the Northern Territory as a Mounted Constable until 1915. He was known as Mulga Bill. At 6'3' tall (about 190 cm), Johns had an imposing physique for the time.
Johns enlisted in the latter part of World War I in March 1918 at the age of 32. He was allocated to the 7th Reinforcements and embarked on HMAT Malta to Egypt in October 1918. He arrived in Suez on 22 November 1918, eleven days after the Armistice was declared. As such, and despit his request to so be awarded, Johns did not receive the Victory Medal for his World War I service.
After his arrival in Egypt, Johns served at the Imperial School of Instruction at Zeitoun, Egypt and eventually joined the 9th Light Horse Regiment in Tripoli, Syria before returning to Egypt via Palestine. He was with the 9th Light Horse Regiment during the Egyptian Rebellion. Johns returned to Australia in August 1919 whereupon he re-commenced his police career.
Johns re-enlisted in the Army during World War II at the age of 57 when he was the Superintendent of Mounted Police. Recognising his extensive leadership experience, Johns was appointed as a Lieutenant and undertook instructional and intelligence roles in South Australia until he completed his military service in November 1945 at the rank of Captain.
Since commencing his police career, Johns had risen through the ranks of the Police Force and was appointed Commissioner of Police in South Australia in 1944.
Johns was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1946. He was a founding member of the Epworth Freemason's Lodge and also an alderman in St Peters Council for more than 17 years.
Based on an extract from the State Library of South Australia.
Edited and added to by Brigadier Tim Hanna.
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