JOHNSTONE, Stanley Watson

Stanley Watson Johnston or Johnstone, was born in Dundee, Scotland in 1887, but little else is known of him. His father was Andrew Johnstone, but this is the only fact in his early life, other than that he served four years as an apprentice at Gourlay Brothers, presumably in Dundee. He was 27 years old in 1915 and gave as his next of kin his wife, Mary Frances, nee Hunt. This is a puzzle, because they did not marry until after his return from the war in 1918, so perhaps she was his fiancee at the time. 

He enlisted on 17 September, 1914, at Albert Park, Melbourne, and, probably as a result of his engineering background, was placed with the 300th Mechanical Transport Company. This unit had been just formed in September, 1914, and was attached to the 1st Division AIF. The new recruits departed Melbourne on 22 December, 1914, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic. Rather than being sent to Egypt and the Gallipoli Campaign, they were diverted to England, arriving 15 February, 1915, leaving for France from Southampton on 9 July, 1915, on board S.S. Golden Eagle, and disembarking at Rouen. Here they were re-named the 300th Mechanical Support Division, then they merged with the British 17th Division Supply Column attached to the British 17th Division. In April, 1916, they were again re-named as the 1st Division Supply Column and remained as such until their disbandment in March 1918. These units were in charge of providing transport,  and were equipped with Daimler and Peerless vehicles and parts brought from Melbourne. Their tasks were varied. They carried ordnance, lumber, road metal, quicklime, rails, medical supplies, postal cargo and anything else needed at the Western Front battlefields. They were assigned to a Divsion, but where they were at any particular time is impossible to follow.

Stan Johnston's record shows a steady line of promotions: on 16 January, 1915, he was promoted to Lance Corporal. On 1 June, 1915, he became Acting Corporal. On 13 May,1916, he was a Temporary Staff Sergeant, then Acting Staff Sergeant with the 1st Divison Supply Column on 22 June, then Staff Segeant on 26 June. In October the same year, he was further promoted to Warrant Officer, still with the 1st Division Supply column. 

He must have been a trustworthy, courageous and disciplined soldier. On 30 January, 1917, he was again promoted , this time to Road Officer with the 1st Australian Division Supply company, but then transferred on 12 March to the 1st Division Motor Transport Company. On 2 May, he was promoted to Lieutenant.

By 1918, Stan Johnston had been in the army for three years. He had been given a week's leave in April, 1917. In May, he had health problems, described as Renal Calculus. He was put into the 2nd Generral Hospital at Havre with what was called Renal Colic, and after a month's illness was assessed by the Army Medical Board as B2, that is 20% incapacity. He was granted three weeks leave on 9 July marching out to his unit from Havre on 8 August, 1918, but on 20 August, was place on the seconded list, with 40% incapacity. He returned to Australia on the Dorset, leaving England on 6 October, 1918. 

In 1919, the Electoral Roll shows him living at 96 Alma Rd., St Kilda, still identified as a soldier, so perhaps he was employed at Victoria Barracks. In 1934, he was with Mary Frances at 70 Collins St, but later on, 1954, he was a farmer, living at Beonah Rd., Srville. In 1963, they were at 23 Shann's Rd., Mornington, with Stan described as an orchardist.

 He died at Mt Martha on 13 September, 1964. His wife, Mary Frances, died in 1972. They do not appear to have had children.