Warrant Officer Class 1 Francis Stephen Johnstone

Francis Johnstone was born at Colac, Victoria, in 1890, one of six children, to parents William and Amy Frances, née Benallack. At the time of enlistment he was employed as a clerk in Melbourne.

Johnstone enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne on 13 July 1915 and was initially allocated to the 10th Reinforcements for the 4th Light Horse Regiment. He embarked Australia on the troopship Ballarat on 11 September 1915 for Egypt. In March 1916 Johnstone left Alexandria for France. In May, he was taken on strength in the 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion. Following a short period with the 1st Division Signal Company in August 1916, Johnstone was then attached to the 1st Australian Division Headquarters in October 1916. Johnstone was promoted to corporal in January 1917 and transferred to the 1st Australian Division Army Ordnance Corps. In August 1918, he was promoted to Lance Sergeant and again promoted in January 1919, to to Warrant Officer Class 1.

Johnstone returned to Australia on the troopship Ulysses. This ship departed Liverpool on 22 July 1919 and London on 31 July 1919, before heading for its final destination, Port Adelaide. A concert was held on board the ship on 31 July 1919, in which Johnstone participated, singing the opening song in the program “The Trumpeter”. Johnstone also appeared in a concert by The Jesters titled Farewell Concert to South Australians aboard the Ulysses on a date unknown. Johnstone was the third performer in this concert but the name of the song is not known.

Johnstone disembarked on 2 September 1919 and was discharged on 1 November 1919.

After discharge, Johnstone took up employment as a clerk with the Commercial Bank in Melbourne and worked for the bank until at least 1924. He married Inez Alice Riley in 1921 and a son, Stuart, was born on 26 October 1924. Census records identify Johnstone as a manufacturer from about 1931 to 1936 then later as a clerk. Johnstone retired in the middle to late 1950s.

Johnstone resided in various suburbs within a small area south east of Melbourne and died in Dromana, Victoria, in 1972 at the age of 82.