Sir William Wallace Stewart Johnston

Brigadier Sir William Wallace Stewart Johnston, (21 December 1887 – 21 August 1962) was a medical practitioner and an Australian Army officer who served in the First and Second World Wars. During the latter conflict he was in charge of medical services during the Kokoda Track campaign.

Early life William Wallace Stewart Johnston was born in South Yarra, Victoria, on 21 December 1887, the second son of William Edward Johnston, a barrister who later became a County Court of Victoria judge, and his wife Clara Jane, née Wallace. He was a grandson of James Johnston.

Johnston was educated at Melbourne Grammar School, and then entered Trinity College at the University of Melbourne, where he studied medicine. He graduated with his dual Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degrees in 1914, and became a resident medical officer at Melbourne Hospital. He was posted to the 12th Battalion as its Regimental Medical Officer on 1 August 1916, and was awarded the Military Cross for Battle of Mouquet Farm.

Johnson was promoted to major on 17 September 1917. Four days later he suffered gunshot wounds to the neck and chest in the Battle of Passchendaele, and was evacuated to England. He was also mentioned in despatches. His DSO citation read:

Johnston did not rejoin the 12th Battalion until 1 May 1918. He embarked for Australia on the on 27 September 1919, over ten months after the armistice of 11 November 1918 which ended the war, and his AIF appointment was terminated on 21 January 1920.

Between the wars, Johnston remained active in the Militia, and commanded the 2nd Field Ambulance from 1928 to 1934. He then became assistant director of Medical Services at Army Headquarters. He was later advanced to the rank of commander in 1944, and to knight in 1948.

Second World War Johnston was promoted to colonel on 13 October 1939, and commenced full-time duty as Assistant Director General of Medical Services. He joined the Second Australian Imperial Force on 21 November 1939, with the rank of colonel, and was allocated the AIF service number VX229. He assumed command of the 2/2nd General Hospital, with which he embarked for Egypt on 17 June 1940.

Johnston returned to Australia in February 1942, and served as deputy director of Medical Services of New Guinea Force during the Kokoda Track campaign. He was relieved of his command in November 1942 and returned to Australia, ostensibly on medical grounds. He became deputy director of Medical Services of II Corps on 28 May 1943, was appointed the honorary physician to the Governor General of Australia on 8 July, and placed on the retired list on 20 July. and was president of the Graduate Union of the University of Melbourne from 1959 to 1961. The university awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1962.

Johnston died in East Melbourne on 21 August 1962, and his remains were cremated. He was survived by his wife and two sons.