"Tom" Thomas JOHNSTON
Born 4 October 1890 in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland [28] [P123]
Son of iron moulder William JOHNSTON and Ann WALKER [28] [30: item 1831124]
In 1891 he was living with his parents and grandfather Alexander WALKER on Kirkland Street in Glasgow [20]
He was living with his parents and brothers Alexander and William at 2 May Place off Brisbane Road in Largs, Ayrshire in 1911 [20]
Left Scotland and immigrated to Western Australia with his parents and three brothers in 1911 [P123]
Settled with his parents and brothers on virgin land at Totadgin south of Merredin, which they cleared by axe [P123]
Farmer and Plumber of Totadgin until enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force in Merredin on 31 January 1916 [30: item 1831124]
On enlistment he was recorded as 5 feet 8¼ inches tall, with blue eyes, light brown hair and a red complexion [30]
Gave his next of kin as his father William JOHNSTON, whose address was Brisbane Farm in Totadgin, Western Australia [30]
After training at the Blackboy Hill military camp was appointed on 12 April 1916 to the 12th Reinforcements 28th Battalion [30]
Embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia for active service abroad on the H.M.A.T. A60 Aeneas on 17 April 1916 [30]
After further training in England proceeded to France on 9 September 1916 [30]
Private 4567 in the Australian Imperial Force's 28th Battalion in France during the First World War [30]
Wounded in Action in France on 29 October 1917 but returned to duty and was promoted to Corporal on 28 June 1918 [30]
Married (1) Violet Elsie TUMBER on 13 March 1919 in Saint Marylebone, London, England [30]
At the time of their marriage his and Violet's address was 9 Hanover Terrace Mews in Saint Marylebone, London, England [30]
He and his wife departed London, England on the ship Port Lincoln and arrived in Fremantle on 4 September 1919 [30]
Discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 27 October 1919; received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal [30]
After the war he obtained farmland in Carnamah through the Soldier Settlement Scheme [P123]
Farmer in Carnamah, Western Australia 1921-1949 [3] [6] [19]
Initially farmed in Carnamah in partnership with Harold Frank DUNNING - as "Johnston and Dunning" [44]
Jointly they were the farmers of Dunston Park Farm in Carnamah on the south side of the North Boundary Road [44] [62]
They were both Crown Lessees of the farm's 1,764 acres - the adjacent Victoria Locations 7182 and 7183 [44] [61]
The farm was presumably named using 'Dun' from the start of Dunning and 'ston' from the end of Johnston [P1]
Wrote to the Midland Railway Company on 13 November 1921 requesting a plan and prices for their land for sale in Carnamah [34]
Signed the petition in February 1923 for the Irwin Licensing Court to grant a hotel license for Carnamah [10: 9-Mar-1923]
Obtained the telephone in 1925 - was telephone number Carnamah-10D from 1925 to 1931 [60]
In 1931 had the telephone disconnected, probably due to the depression, and never had the telephone again [60]
Requested in 1925 for the Carnamah District Road Board declare a new road between Prowaka Siding and The Gangway [9: 6-Mar-1925]
Attended the local farewell for Jack and Annie LYNCH at the home of Mr and Mrs Roger W. CLARK on 6 April 1929 [4: 13-Apr-1929]
On Saturday 11 May 1929 attended the surprise party tendered to Mrs Ida B. CROSSING at Ida's home in Carnamah [4: 25-May-1929]
Attended the Carnamah Football Club's Opening Season Ball held at the Carnamah Town Hall on 18 May 1929 [4: 25-May-1929]
He was among those who attended the Centenary Ball held at the Carnamah Hall on 26 July 1929 [86: 3-Aug-1929]
The ball was to celebrate 100 years since the founding of Perth and the establishment of the Swan River Colony [86]
Attended the Plain and Fancy Dress Ball at the Carnamah Town Hall on Thursday 8 August 1929 as a "Sheik" [4: 17-Aug-1929]
Attended the Ball in Carnamah in aid of the local Roman Catholic Church's building fund on Thursday 24 May 1930 [4: 31-May-1930]
He and Harold Frank DUNNING had dissolved partnership by 1932 with their farm being split between them [3]
On the dissolution of their partnership he became the sole owner of Victoria Location 7182, which was 880 acres in size [3]
Among those who made a donation to the Carnamah Country Women's Association in 1932 to help them buy premises [5: 29-Jul-1932]
Advertised in the local newspaper on 4 May 1934 that he had a well fenced paddock available for sheep feed [5: 4-May-1934]
Attended the funeral of Mrs Christina B. D. FORRESTER of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 31 August 1934 [4: 8-Sep-1934]
Underwent an operation at the Carnamah Private Hospital on Tuesday 25 September 1934 [5: 28-Sep-1934]
Attended the R.S.L. Annual General Meeting and Smoke Social at the Carnamah Hall on Saturday 6 April 1935 [5: 12 & 19-Apr-1935]
Attended the Fourth Annual North Midlands R.S.L. Reunion Dinner held in Three Springs on Saturday 19 October 1935 [5: 25-Oct-1935]
Attended the funeral of Miss "May" Mary L. LANG of Carnamah at the Winchester Cemetery on 26 November 1935 [5: 29-Nov-1935]
He wrote a letter to the editor of The North Midland Times, which was published in the Friday 31 July 1936 edition of the paper [5]
The letter was in response to a notice in the previous edition of the paper about the winding up of the Carnamah Race Club [5]
They were to give their money to the North Midlands District Hospital in Three Springs and the Children's Hospital in Perth [5]
In his letter he agreed they were worthy recipients but pointed out that "Charity begins at Home" especially with the depression [5]
He stated that the money, which had been raised in Carnamah, should be spent in Carnamah and listed possible beneficiaries [5]
The Carnamah Race Club upon disbanding subsequently decided to give their money to the Carnamah Athletic Club [5: 18-Sep-1936]
Had an account with Carnamah blacksmith, wheelwright and motor mechanics Henry Parkin & Son from the 1920s to the 1940s [53]
Member of the Carnamah Sub-Branch of the Returned Soldiers League in the 1930s and 1940s [52]
In 1940 the value of his property, Victoria Location 7182, was reduced owing to salt encroachment [0: image 03921]
Married (2) "May" Louisa May MILLS in 1941 [0: image 04022]
Financial Member of the Carnamah District Agricultural Society 1941-1952 [13]
In 1949 sold his Carnamah farm in two portions to neighbouring farmers L. William GRIERSON and Harold F. DUNNING [3]
After selling his farm left Carnamah and shifted to a 3,000 acre property 13 miles north of Trayning [P123]
Farmer of Routenburn Farm in Trayning 1949-1961 [P123]
Believed to have name the farm Routenburn after a locality of the same name in Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland [--]
Father of Constance, Tony, Alex and John [P123]
Died 4 July 1961; buried at Karrakatta Cemetery in Perth, Western Australia (Anglican, ZS, 61) [2]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Thomas Johnston' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 21 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/thomas-johnston [reference list] |
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