The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (1376) Private Alexander Thomas Johnston, 3rd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Charis May, the story for this day was on (1376) Private Alexander Thomas Johnston, 3rd Battalion, AIF, First World War.

1376 Private Alexander Thomas Johnston, 3rd Battalion, AIF
KIA 6–12 August 1915
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 8 November 2016

Today we remember and pay tribute to Private Alexander Thomas Johnston.

Known as “Alec”, Alexander Johnston was born in Sydney in December 1894 to William and Margaret Johnston. He had six sisters and four brothers. Johnston grew up in the Rocks district and attended Fort Street Public School in Miller’s Point. After leaving school, he went to work for the publishing department of the Sydney Morning Herald as a brass polisher. He also served in his local Militia unit.

After the outbreak of the First World War, Johnston enlisted for service with the AIF on 3 November 1914. After his initial training, he was allotted to the 2nd reinforcements for the 3rd Battalion. In February 1915 he embarked for Egypt aboard the transport ship Seang Bee. Once there, it wasn’t long before he was sent to join the 3rd Battalion at Lemnos Island as it prepared for the Gallipoli campaign.

Johnston landed on Gallipoli with the 3rd Battalion between 7 and 8 am on the morning of 25 April. He survived the chaotic first weeks of the campaign and assisted in holding the Australian positions against Turkish counter-attacks.

Gallipoli quickly became a stalemate. In August an offensive was planned to attempt a breakout from the Anzac beachhead. In the evening of 6 August the 3rd Battalion was in the first wave over the top to attack Lone Pine.

In some areas the Australians were forced to fight their way through Turkish trenches roofed with logs, into the stygian darkness of the Turkish front line. Over three days of constant fighting Lone Pine became choked with corpses, and Johnston was killed in action. He was buried at Lone Pine a few days later. He was 20 years old.

Like many others buried at Lone Pine without a known grave, Johnston was accorded a headstone with his full regimental details and the inscription “believed to be buried in this cemetery”.

Two of Johnston’s younger brothers also served in the AIF, enlisting in the years following their brother’s death. Both returned home.

Johnston’s name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Private Alexander Thomas Johnston, who gave his life for us, for our freedoms, and in the hope of a better world.

Michael Kelly
Historian, Military History Section