Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Major-General R. M. Johnstone, M.B.E., M.C., Royal Army Medical Corps, who was awarded an Immediate Military Cross for his gallantry with the Middle East Forces during the Second World War, and was awarded the M.B.E. for his services in Malaya

Korea 1950-53, 1st issue (Lt. Col. R. M. Johnstone. M.B.E. M.C. R.A.M.C.); U.N. Korea 1950-54, unnamed as issued, extremely fine (2) £400-£500

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2005.

M.B.E. London Gazette 26 October 1954:
‘In recognition of distinguished services in Malaya during the period 1 January to 30 June 1954.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘This Officer has consistently displayed the highest qualities of loyalty, professional skill, and military efficiency throughout his service in this unit. He has devoted himself especially to the care of the Gurkha TB patients. The high morale of these patients and their excellent medical condition are due almost entirely to his own very hard work and his personal interest in each patient. His attention to their care has never been limited to their medical treatment, but he has executed his influence on all their activities. The present efficiency and smooth running of the medical division is entirely due to him. His personal integrity, his professional knowledge and experience, his application of himself to the leisure activities of the unit, as well as to its work have all been an outstanding example to the junior officers.
As Commanding Officer of this Hospital I do not hesitate to say that his presence in the unit has been the biggest single factor in enabling the unit to achieve the present high regard in which I know its work is held in Kuala Lumpur, and throughout Malaya. The standard and scope of his work has been consistently beyond what would normally be expected of an officer in his appointment.’

M.C. London Gazette 19 August 1943:
‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East.’

The original Recommendation states: ‘During the action near Tebaga on 9 May 1943, Major Johnstone worked under heavy shell and mortar fire clearing casualties from our forward positions. Later on the same evening when the Commanding Officer of the Field Ambulance was killed he took charge of all forward clearing of casualties. He went to the assistance of a Regimental Aid Post in which the Regimental Medical Officer had been wounded and which had become very disorganised. Under heavy fire he reorganised the treatment and evacuation of casualties from this Regimental Aid Post. By his skill and devotion to duty large numbers of casualties were successfully evacuated. Throughout the whole action his example was inspiring to all and his courage and disregard of personal danger quite outstanding.’

Commander, Order of St. John London Gazette 20 June 1969.

Robert Maxwell Johnstone was born in Edinburgh on 9 March 1914 and educated at the Edinburgh Academy, Craigflower, Fettes College, Christ College Cambridge and the University of Edinburgh. Gaining the M.A. M.B. B.Chir. from Cambridge and the M.B. Ch.B. from Edinburgh in 1938, he became a M.R.C.P. in 1940, a F.R.C.P. in 1944 and a M.D. (Edinburgh) in 1954. He was employed as a Resident House Physician and Surgeon at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, 1938-39. Serving in the Second World War with the R.A.M.C., he was employed with the 129 Field Regiment 1938-41, was company commander of the 167 Field Regiment 1941-43, employed at the Staff College, Haifa during 1943 and was C.O. of 3 Field Ambulance 1945-46. He attained the rank of War Substantive Major in January 1946 and was awarded the M.C. for his services at Enfidaville in April/May 1943. Employed as Advisor in Medicine, H.Q. East Africa Command 1950-51; during the Korean War he was then Consultant Physician at the Commonwealth General Hospital in Japan. He was later Professor of Medicine and Honorary Consulting Physician to the Iraqi Army 1959-63. He attained the rank of Major-General in May 1967 as Consulting Physician to the H.Q. Far East Land Forces 1965-67, after which he was employed as Deputy Director of Medical Services, Southern Command 1967-68 and Army Strategic Command 1968-69, in which latter year he retired.

Sold with a letter from Major-General Johnstone in which he provides some service details, lists his medals and explains why he parted with his British Korea Medal, believing (erroneously) that he was not entitled to it.

Major-General Johnstone was awarded the M.B.E., M.C., C.St.J., 1939-45 Star; Africa Star with 8th Army clasp; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals; General Service Medal with clasp Palestine 1945-48; Korea Medal; U.N. Korea Medal; and Coronation Medal 1953.