Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Geelong’ A2 for Egypt 5.6.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 7th Infantry Brigade, 28th Battalion, 1st Reinforcements Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Johnston disembarked in Egypt. He entrained to Alexandria and joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) and embarked for Gallipoli. He was taken on strength with the 28th Battalion on the 3.5.1915. Johnston became sick at ANZAC on the 7.11.1915. He was invalided to the 2nd General Hospital at Ghezireh with jaundice 13.11.1915. Johnston requested to be transferred from the 28th Battalion to the 10th Light Horse. His request was granted and he transferred to the 10th Light Horse 22.1.1916. He transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Reserve Regiment 6.3.1916. Johnston was transferred to the 4th Artillery Division 1.4.1916, then to the 24th Howitzer Brigade 7.4.1916. He was appointed Temp. Driver 18.5.1916, then applied for discharge from the Australian Imperial Force to join the Royal Flying Corps. He commenced training with the Royal Flying Corps 4.11.1916  at the School of Military Air in Oxford. He stayed at Exeter College 26.1.1917, where he shared a room with pioneer aviator, Francis Stewart Briggs.  On 10 March all the cadets succeeded in their examinations and passed out from Oxford. On 17 March, Johnston  was simultaneously honourably discharged from the AIF 16.3.1917 and admitted to the RFC as a second Lieutenant16.3.1917, (Western Mail 26.4.1918) and then to Captain in the Royal Flying Corps. Johnston was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (Sunday Times 24.11.1918).
Returned/Disembarked 24.7.1919 (West Australian Newspaper 28.7.1919). He entered service with the Royal Flying Corps and commenced . He was discharged in England and granted a Commission in the Australian Imperial Army. Johnston was promoted in the Royal Flying Corps to 2nd Lieutenant Flight Lieutenant
Final Rank Captain Royal Flying Corps.
Medical Condition NK
Awards and Medals Distinguished Flying Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Distinguished Flying Cross Citation.
‘A brilliant and dashing leader, who greatly distinguished himself on September 4th 1918. Leading his flight of 4 machines (including his own) he saw a patrol of 14 Fokkers. Undaunted by the disparity of numbers, he, without hesitation engaged and completely defeated them. One was shot down and were driven out of control…… continuing his patrol, shortly after he saw another formation of 8 Fokkers. His machine was badly shot about and much of his ammunition expended, but this did not deter him from attacking them. In this engagement 3 Fokkers were accounted for, one shot down by himself and 3 were driven down out of ’control’.
(West Australian Newspaper 28.7.1919)

Notes 3 of his brothers also served in WW1 – Frederick Marshall (SN 51999), Sidney St. Muir (SN 295), Alfred Lawrence (SN 32545) (Western Mail 26.4.1918) He became engaged to Alice Richard in July 1920.
Johnston piloted a non-stop plane over new aviation route from Adelaide to Perth (West Australian Newspaper 8.6.1919).
He was appointed Controller of Civil Aviation in Australia (Sunday Times 30.4.1933).
His father was Surveyor General, in Perth. WA. (Later MLA Perth).
Photo  Flt. Lieut. Edgar Johnston. Photograph source Western Mail  26.4.1918
            Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph source AWM P2194.005
            Edgar Johnston and Francis Briggs at Oxford 1916. Photograph source Wikipedia
            Dust jacket on book by Briggs with foreword by E. Johnston 1938. Photograph source Wikipedia

Information Source
AWM P2194.005. Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation RollJohnston E C
Edgar Johnston and Francis Briggs at Oxford 1916. Photograph source Wikipedia,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Stewart_Briggs
Guildford Grammar School Honour Roll
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
Joy Sticks and Fiddlesticks. Briggs, E. F., Pub. Hutchinson & Co. Ltd. UK. 1938
NAA: B2455, Johnston E C
Sunday Times
West Australian Newspaper
Western Mail




‘Wandu’, Greenmount. WA.

Associated Images