Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War II (1939-1945)

Date of Enlistment

14/07/1942

Date of Discharge

27/10/1943

Place of Enlistment

Operational Station, Papua

Gender

Male

Date of Birth

10/08/1912

Place of Birth

Alberton, South Australia

Address (at enlistment)

Torrens Street, Braddon ACT

Occupation

Clerk

Next of Kin

Joyce Johnstone (wife), Torrens Street, Braddon ACT

Service Number

NX128776 (N43182)

Final Rank

Captain

Final Unit

3/22 Battalion

Johnstone worked for the Department of the Interior and was a member of the 3rd Battalion militia (the Werriwa Regiment). He served with the 3rd Battalion in Papua from May 1942 but was hospitalised the following month with dysentery. He recovered in time to join his unit as part of Maroubra Force on the Kokoda Track from 5 September. Johnstone was an officer in C Company of the 3rd Battalion. By 11 September they were on Engineers Ridge on the Track where they met the retreating Australian troops. The Australians retired to Ioribaiwa Ridge and then Imita Ridge on 17 September. However, the Japanese had over reached themselves and shortly after began their own retreat.

By 17 October, 3 Battalion were at the head of the attack against the Japanese at Templetons Crossing. Johnstone had temporary command of C Company when, on 19 September, they positioned themselves on a ridge above the enemy to facilitate an attack by the 2/25 Battalion. The attack did not eventuate and Johnstone had to extricate his men as the Japanese began to surround them.

The 3rd Battalion reached Kokoda in early November and fought their final battle of the Kokoda campaign at Oivi between 5 and 8 November. The Japanese retreated to their beach heads on the north coast of Papua and the 3rd Battalion joined the attack on Gona. On 22 November Johnstone was evacuated to the 2/4 Field Ambulance at Soputa and was there when it was bombed on 27 November, helping his mate, Ted Young, who had just had a leg amputated, escape to safety.

Johnstone was evacuated to Australia with an ulcer on his right eye and this caused him to be placed on restricted duties. He spent most of 1943 convalescing before being discharged in October 1943. He and his wife were killed in a car accident near Marulan on 6 December 1968. They were buried together in Woden Cemetery.

WWII Nominal Roll http://www.ww2roll.gov.au
ACT Electoral Rolls 1916 to 1967 http://canberraheritageportal.org/default.php
Canberra Public Cemeteries http://www.canberracemeteries.com.au/cem_gravesearch.asp
Colin Kennedy, 'Port Moresby to Gona Beach. 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion 1942', 1992
AWM Collections Record : P01384.001
NAA RecordSearch
The Canberra Times - 2 May 1940, 7 December 1968