George Henry Johnston (12 February 1877 – 11 August 1945) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in its first-ever match (1897) in the Victorian Football League (VFL) competition,Holmesby & Main (2009). and with Prahran in its first-ever match (1899) in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) competition.
Family The son of John Johnston (1836-1888),Deaths: Johnston, The Age, (Tuesday, 16 October 1888), p. 3. and Susannah Johnston (1844-1914), née Knight,Deaths: Johnston, The Age, (Wednesday, 25 March 1914), p. 1. George Henry Johnston was born in Sandridge, Victoria on 12 February 1877.Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria Births Registration no.5251/1877.
He married Edith Florence Button (1873-1933) in 1900.Deaths: Johnston, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Monday, 17 April 1933), p. 1. They had four children.Service Record.
Football Carlton (VFL) Recruited from the Albert Park Football Club, Johnston only played once for the Carlton Football Club: against Fitzroy, at the Brunswick Street Oval, on 8 May 1987, in the first-ever round of the new Victorian Football League (VFL) competition. Three weeks later he was cleared back to Albert Park.'Wing', "Junior Jottings", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 28 May 1897), p. 7.
Prahran (VFA) Recruited from Albert Park, Johnston played in the first-ever match that Prahran played on its re-entry into the VFA against Richmond, at Toorak Park, on 6 May 1899 at full-back, and as the team's captain.The Association: Prahran v. Richmond, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Saturday, 6 May 1899), p. 4.' Rover', "Opening of the Season at Toorak Park", The Prahran Telegraph, (Saturday, 13 May 1899), p. 2.Prahran Football Team (Photograph), (Melbourne) Punch, Thursday, 29 June 1899), p. 25: Johnston is in the centre of the second row, holding the football. He played in 17 matches (scoring 1 goal) in 1899, and in 5 matches (scoring 1 goal) in 1900.The VFA Project.
Recognition He was a Life Member of both the Prahran Football Club and the Victorian Football Association.Millard, P.J., "Port Melbourne need better home-game Ground", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Monday, 16 April 1945), p. 10.
Military service He enlisted in the First AIF in November 1915. He served overseas, and was wounded in action twice: in 1917,Roll of Honor: Casualty Lists—Nos.336 & 337: Tasmanian Casualties: Wounded in Action, The (Launceston) Examiner, (Thursday, 13 September 1917), p. 7: note that he is listed as "Johnstone". and in 1918.Roll of Honor (Casualty Lists Nos.448 & 449): Tasmanian Casualties: Wounded in Action, The (Launceston) Examiner, (Tuesday, 3 December 1918), p. 5: note (a) that he is listed as "Johnstone", and (b) that his wounding-in-action is "second occasion".
Death He died at the Repatriation General Hospital, Hobart, on 11 August 1945.Deaths: Johnston, The (Hobart) Mercury, (Monday, 13 August 1945), p. 10.
Notes
References
First World War Embarkation Roll: 2nd Corporal George Henry Johnstone (sic) (1052), collection of the Australian War Memorial. First World War Nominal Roll: Sergeant George Henry Johnston (1052), collection of the Australian War Memorial. First World War Service Record: Sergeant George Henry Johnston (1052), collection of the National Archives of Australia.
External links
George Johnston's profile at The VFA Project. George Johnston's profile at Blueseum.