Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Robert was the second son of Helen & William Johnston, his other siblings being older brother Kenneth and younger sister Barbara. Robert's mother was born in London in 1897 and his father William was born in Shetland c. 1883, where he learnt his trade as a seaman and, later a foreman stevedore in Sydney, after the war. Robert's father William was serving on the troop and merchant supply ship SS (Zed) Zealandia in Darwin Harbor when it was sunk 19 February 1942 during the first Japanese air raid on Darwin. His father William survived the sinking.

After seeing service in the Pacific Robert was onboard the Kanimbla when it repatriated a number of Australian servicemen from Lae PNG, including his as-yet-unknown future brother-in-law, Ron Ferguson.

Following the war Robert would begin a distinguished career in the automotive industry first with Leyland, then Thiess and later as President of Toyota Australia, as well as a Federal Government appointment under the Keating Government.

Sadly he would die early from melanoma. Paul Keating and John Howard attended his funeral at St Marks in Darling Point, Sydney. The Hon John Button gave the eulogy.