SAPPER DAVID SHANKS JOHNSTONE
1229 – Mining Corps
David Shanks Johnstone was born in 1894 at Wollongong, New South Wales the son of David and Sarah (nee Smith) Johnstone. The family went to Western Australia and were residing in Kalgoorlie where David worked as a miner.
At the Kalgoorlie recruiting depot in November, 1915 the twenty-one year old applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination he was declared fit and his application was accepted by the recruiting officer. Acknowledgement to the local volunteers was published in the:
His original Attestation Forms were lost but his training would have commenced at Blackboy Hill camp near Perth, W.A. His rank was Sapper with the regimental number 1229.
Recruiting for the Miners’ Corps began officially on December 1st, 1915. The recruits were placed for basic training the following day at the Helena Vale camp at Blackboy Hill, W.A. as the Corps was being established.
The original No. 3 Company consisted of Company Headquarters and 3 Sections recruited in the 5th M.D. (Western Australia). The major portion of No. 3 Company was recruited by 2nd Lt. L.J. Coulter, A.I.F. who was sent from N.S.W. to W.A. for that purpose.
No. 3 Company, with a strength of 1 Officer and 274 Other Ranks embarked from Fremantle, W.A. on December 18, 1915 and sailed to Sydney, NSW on board the troopship SS Indarra.
On Boxing Day (Dec 26th), 1915 the Unit arrived in Sydney and marched into Casula Camp, near Liverpool, NSW. They were joined by the 4th Section of the Tasmanian Miners, bringing the establishment strength up to 15 officers and 349 Other Ranks under the command of 2nd Lieutenant L.J. Coulter. Mining Corps Units from all Military districts came together at Casula to complete training as a Corps.
On January 6, 1916 he re-Attested at Casula camp and re-examined by the Corps’ doctor and found to be fit for service. Forms describe him as twenty-one years of age standing 160cms (5ft 3ins) tall and weighed 57.2kgs (126lbs). Complexion was fair with grey eyes and had brown hair. Distinctive marks were brown scars on the back of his left shoulder blade and 4 vaccination scars on his left arm. Religion was Presbyterian. Next-of-kin was his mother Sarah Johnstone of Boulder Block Post Office, Fimiston, W.A. He took the ‘Oath’ the same day. A month later disciplinary action was taken for the following:
Offence:Casula A.W.L. 1/2/16
Award:Fined 5 shillings
Length of Service:25 days
General character:fair
Offence:Casula A.W.L. 3-5/2/16 3 days
Award:Fined 15 shillings and 12 days C.B. [confined to barracks]
Length of service:30 days
General character:fair
Previous crimes:A.W.L. 1 day
At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.
The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded. While at Broadmeadows the following took place:
Offence:Broadmeadows 23/2/16 A.W.L. from Reveille till 28/2/26
Award:Fined £4 by Capt Coulter
General character:Good
Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.
Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.
On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.
The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted. During his time in camp the following occurred:
Offence:Blackboy Hill A.W.L. 13/3/16 from Reveille
Award:6 days detention from 10am 16/3/16 to 10am 22/3/16
Offence:A.W.L. 14/3/16 from Reveille
Award:Detention from 7am 14/3/16 till Reveille 16/3/16
Length of service:114 days
General character:fair
Last entry conduct book:23/2/16
Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. Sapper Johnstone failed to embark on the transport. The absentee had not been apprehended by May 25, 1916 and costs were outstanding for his uniform.
On June 13, 1916 a Warrant was issued for his apprehension and to be conveyed to the Engineer Depot at Moore Park, Sydney, NSW. The Warrant remained until cancelled after the war on January 30, 1919 by the Defence Department.
David is listed in the 1916 Electoral Roll at West Boulder Lease, P.O. Fimiston with the occupation of labourer.
He was Discharged in Consequence of Desertion on July 21, 1920 being illegally absent from April 1, 1916 until July 21, 1920. The notice appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette issue No. 61 dated July 22, 1920.
As Sapper Johnstone did not embark for overseas service he was ineligible for War Service Medals.
He married in 1920 to Nita Ingram with the marriage registered at East Coolgardie, W.A.
The following appeared from the Kalgoorlie Council Meeting with the report appearing in the:
In 1946 David was the Licensee of the Savor Wine Palace and the following year the licence of the Shaftesbury Wine Saloon was transferred to him in March, 1947. His residence was 49 Tareena-street, Hollywood, W.A. The following item from a Court Report was printed in the:
His address in 1949 was 21 Redcliffe Road, Redcliffe, W.A. with the occupation of business manager. In 1954 he was a manager with his residence at 134 Surrey Road, Riverdale, W.A. and he was a pensioner with his wife Nita living at 8 Ryans Parade, Belmont, W.A. in 1958.
David Shanks Johnstone died on June 27, 1960 aged 65 years at Belmont. Cremation took place at Karrakatta Crematorium and his ashes placed in their Memorial Rose Garden and memorialised at site 3F in position 2.
Nita Johnstone passed away on July 6, 1985 at East Fremantle, W.A. and her ashes were placed in the same position.
© Donna Baldey 2014