Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

British War Medal 1914-20 (Surg. Gen. A. J. J. Johnston. R.N.) good very fine £100-£140

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Small Collection of Medals to Naval Surgeons.

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Alexander John James Johnston was born at Walmer, Kent, in 1856, the third son of Inspector General of Hospitals and Fleets Wingate Johnston, a recipient of the Sir Gilbert Blane Medal, and was commissioned Surgeon in the Royal Navy on 30 March 1878, being promoted Staff Surgeon on 30 March 1890 and Fleet Surgeon on 16 November 1894. He served as Deputy Inspector-General at Haslar Hospital from 27 May 1905, and then Deputy Inspector-General of the Bighi Naval Hospital, Malta from March 1910, being re-ranked as Deputy Surgeon General in 1911, and was promoted Surgeon-General of the Royal Navy on 2 February 1912. He transferred to the Retired List in 1913.

Following the outbreak of the Great War Johnston was recalled to service, being posted to the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham, and received H.M. King George V on his visit to the Hospital and Naval Base in October 1914. He served at Chatham until finally retiring in September 1916. However, he was back in uniform the following year, having been granted a temporary commission as a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 17 March 1917, and served with them at home until relinquishing his commission on 1 January 1919. For his services during the Great War he received the British War Medal only. He died in Yelverton, Devon, on 17 October 1942.

Sold with copied research.