World War I
Johnston was appointed to the First Australian Imperial Force on 18 August 1914 as a Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade. The brigade sailed for Egypt during October 1914. Guns of the 2nd Field Brigade's 4th Field Battery landed at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 and were the first to open fire on the enemy. The rest of the brigade, less the 6th Field Battery, which was diverted to Cape Helles, came ashore the next day, eventually settling on McCay's Hill and MacLagan's Ridge. Johnston was designated as commander of the 2nd Division Artillery but became acting commander of the 1st Division Artillery while Brigadier General Talbot Hobbs was acting 1st Division commander from August to October 1915. He then commanded the 3rd Infantry Brigade until late November.
Johnston was again appointed commander of the 2nd Division Artillery in January 1916. He sailed for France in March and his artillery fired its first barrage on the Germans on 27 April 1916. He commanded the 2nd Division Artillery at Pozieres, Lagnicourt, Bullecourt, and Third Ypres.
In October 1917, Johnston became upset when he was superseded by Brigadier General Coxen for the post of Corps Artillery commander on 18 October 1917 and asked to be sent home. General William Birdwood accepted the request, he was replaced by Brigadier General Owen Phillips on 1 November 1917 and returned to Australia. For his services on the Western Front, Johnston was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) and Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG); he had been Mentioned in Despatches four times.
Read more about this topic: George Johnston (general)
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