JOHNSTON (JOHNSTONE), Walter Gavin (W G)
| Service Number: | 48 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 3rd South Australian Bushmen's Contingent |
| Born: | Mount Gambier, South Australia , 21 November 1873 |
| Home Town: | Mount Gambier, Mount Gambier, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Trooper, 48, 3rd South Australian Bushmen's Contingent |
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Help us honour Walter Gavin (W G) Johnston (Johnstone)'s service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Robert Kearney
Severely wounded [bullet in knee] near Wonderfontein 9 November 1900 and invalided to Australia; arrived 28 May 1901
Boer War Veteran Celebrating Birthday
One of Mount Gambier's few remaining Boer War veterans, Mr. Walter Gavin Johnston, is celebrating; his 78th birthday today. Still recovering from an attack of influenza a few weeks back, Mr. Johnston is spending his birthday quietly at his home in Wehl Street North. Leaving for South Africa as a member of'the 3rd Contingent, South Australian Bushmen, Mr. Johnston was at the relief of Mafeking, and later fought in Rhodesia, until he was wounded, and invalided home in November, 1901. Speaking of the 3rd Contin-gent, South Australian Bushmen. Mr. Johnston said this week that all men had to pass a strict test before they were accepted. Among other things, they, were tested in riding ability, and skill at shooting. The whole Contingent was financed through public subscription by the people of South Australia, who paid for all equipment and horses, said Mr. Johnston. They even went to the extent of paying for life insurance policies taken out for members of the Contingent.
WAR RECORD
Two of Mr. Johnston's brothers also fought in South Africa - Charles, now living at Orbost (Vic.) and Bill, who was killed in World War I. The tradition was kept up by two of Mr. Johnston's sons, Bill and Colin, who served in World War II, Bill going right through the New Guinea and Islands campaigns. On his return from South Africa, Mr. Johnston went to live in the O.B. Flat district, eventually taking over the property that his father, one of the earliest settlers in the district, had purchased from the late Mr. James Umpherston. Mr. Johnston later added to the original holding, where he lived until he retired about eight years ago and came to live in Mount Gambier.
DISTRICT NAMED
Mr. Johnston said he had often heard his father and mother talking about the origin of the name of O.B. Flat. It appears that, in the very early days of settlement, a mob of bullocks was being driven through the district, and at an overnight camp on the property known as McLean's, near the O.B. Flat School, one of the bullocks died. This bullock, branded prominently with the letters "O.B.,' led to the name of O.B. Flat being given to the district.