Nowell Campbell Johnstone

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Lieutenant-Commander Nowell Campbell Johnstone Royal Navy, Retired (3 December, 1886 – 30 June, 1937) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

His career would be marred by drink and, consequently, larceny and venereal disease.

Life & Career

Born in Windsor Cottage, Bodmin, Johnstone was the son of a Royal Navy Captain. He was to become a Physical Training instructor during his time in the Navy.[1]

After spending a month in Kale, Johnstone was appointed to Ocean on 14 November, 1907. In January, 1908, Captain Dundas reported that Johnstone's conduct was "satisft since joining Ocean. Not brilliant, but tried to do his duty well. Ability rather below average."[2]

Johnstone was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1911.[3]

On 6 October, 1913, he was admitted to Haslar Hospital and diagnosed with gonorrhea and discharged on the 18th. However, on 18 July, 1914 he was readmitted for up to three months observation, suffering from neurasthenia.[4]

Great War

The war seemed to prompt his doctors to think him instantly better, as the three months allowed at Haslar were cut right off on 31 July when he was found fit. He was appointed Lieutenant in Command of the destroyer Vulture on 16 August, 1914 and would fight in her until January, 1916. On 30 March, 1915 he was in Chatham Hospital with conjunctivitis, remaining there until April 7th. A dismal report on him in May from Captain Ellison indicated that Johnstone "appeared to be suffering from effects of constant drinking & quite unfit for command." He was to be subjected to quarterly reports on his sobriety as a check.[5]

On 30 June, 1915 he earned the appreciation of the Admiralty for his conduct in handling the mining of the destroyer Lightning.[6]

On 28 April, 1916, he was discharged from his two months in command of P25 and went to the Admiralty. On 3 May, he was appointed to join Canterbury. He received a favourable report on his sobriety in August 1916 from Canterbury's captain, Royds, but this would not prove to be the final word on his drinking.

On 12 November, 1916 it was recorded that Johnstone had had to be cautioned about his wine bill at the end of August and that it had been reduced to 2/- a day, which improved his performance. But on 2 December, he was Court Martialed for "willful disobedience" and "ordering a wine steward to enter a glass of port for himself on the account of another officer." He was sentenced to lose a year of seniority, receive a severe reprimand, and to be dismissed the ship, which occurred on 10 December, 1916 when Johnstone was superseded in Canterbury. On 12 December, Captain Royds summed up Johnstone's limitations: "Promising career has been spoiled by his becoming unable to keep away from drink. Will drink as much as he is allowed or can get hold of." On the December 23rd, the wayward Lieutenant was appointed to Inflexible.[7]

Johnstone was superseded in Inflexibleon 13 October, 1917 and went to the Sir John Moore where he obtained an evaluation evidently so impassioned that its tiny print cannot be fully read except for "when he gets a chance to take more alcohol than is good for him". He finally ended up as Physical Training instructor (paid) for the Ninth Cruiser Squadron, in Africa and remained in her until she was paid off on 7 November, 1918. His final evaluation on that day from Captain D'Arcy mentions, "is not of temperate habits... wine bill has to be limited."[8]

Post-War

Johnstone was placed on the Retired List on 17 December, 1918 under the Order in Council of 13 May, 1901, with retired pay of 5/- a day. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1919. Allegations of fraud he committed against the Boy Scouts' Association and similar allegations were found, semi-officlally, to be well founded.[9]

Johnstone apparently drowned. His body was found floating in Falmouth Harbour on 30 June, 1937. No date of death was stated on his death certificate.[10]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Richard S. Robinson
Captain of H.M.S. Vulture
16 Aug, 1914[11]
Succeeded by
Roy Gill

Footnotes

  1. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  2. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  3. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  4. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  5. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  6. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  7. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  8. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  9. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  10. Johnstone Service Record, in our PDF for John Gregory Crace. The National Archives. ADM 196/51. f. 62.
  11. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 399g.

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