John JOHNSTON

Constable John Johnston was one of the four officers, with Bourke, Hughes and Mulvie, who migrated to Australia from Ireland in the early part of 1913, joined the Queensland Police in December 1914 and enlisted in the 15th Battalion in 1915. He embarked with the rest of his Battalion aboard the HMAT Seang Bee A48 on 12 February 1915; the convoy was bound for Egypt but was redirected to aid in the Gallipoli effort. On 29 April 1915 Major Quinn and 226 members of the 15th Battalion relieved the position which would become known as Quinn's post. This garrison was responsible for defending the area around Russet's Top and was one of the most heavily contested positions of the Anzac effort. Johnson was killed, most likely in one of the daily charges at Quinn's post on 7 May 1915. His body was initially buried in Monash Valley but later interred into the 4th Battalion Parade Ground Cemetery. He was 28 years old.