Princess Royal Fortress Military Museum > Records

First World War Metal Trunk belonging to Captain (later Major) Maurice Buchan JOHNSON

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c. 1915

Overview

A metal trunk painted with black enamel in ‘distressed’ condition with numerous scratches and some rust. There are holes in the base, and the trunk has broken handles. There are three (3) metal clasps on the front closure; the central one has a lock.

Historical information

The Australian Army Medical Corps was formed on 1 July 1902, shortly after the formation of the Commonwealth Military Forces by combining the medical services of the Australian colonies. This came soon after Australian medical services had operated in the Second Boer War (11 October 1899 – 31 May 1902), providing a field hospital and stretcher bearers to support the Australian Commonwealth Horse and forming a Brigade. In the First World War the Australian Army Medical Corps included specialist units which served wherever Australian soldiers served. A 3-tiered system was developed with Field Dressing Stations providing dressings and tourniquets; Field Hospitals were located close to the Front providing emergency treatment and surgery; large hospitals were located away from the Front providing prolonged treatment. This system expanded to include Casualty Clearing Stations, Field Ambulances, Stationary hospitals, Infectious Diseases hospitals, Hospital Ships, Convalescent depots and Sanitoriums. “World War I saw, for the first time, medics rushing forward with the troops, finding the wounded, stopping their bleeding, and bringing the wounded soldier to the aid station. In World War I medics were no longer expendable and were well trained. After World War I, Military Medicine advanced. Training became a priority both in fighting and medical care. Medics were trained alongside infantry soldiers, learning how to use the lay of the land for their protection and that of their patients. Medics were also trained in the use of pressure dressings, plasma IV' tracheotomy, splints, and administering drugs.” Source: https://www.raamc.org.au/web/index.php?History

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2022.7.1

Item type

Luggage

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Enamel Paint

Metal

Width

365 mm

Height or length

1020 mm

Depth

305 mm

Inscriptions and markings

“CAPT. M.B. JOHNSON 1ST AUST GENERAL HOSPITAL” is on the top of the trunk in white capital letters. The letter “J” appears in white in a small white box border underneath the central lock, as well as in the centre of the other side of the trunk and at both ends.

Contextual information

Maurice Buchan JOHNSON was born on 18 September 1881 in Kew, Victoria. Appointed to the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) on 19 September 1914, he embarked Australia on HMAT Kyarra (A55) on 5 December 1914. He served at the 1st Australian General Hospital and later at the AAMC training depot, where he was promoted to the rank of Major in November 1916. Records show that he was hospitalised due to Synovitis in his right knee, a condition that saw him spending time in the Number 3 General Hospital in London before being found fit by the Medical Board in April 1916. and then transferred to the Number 12 Field Ambulance in June 1917. By January 1918 his knee condition was listed as ‘chronic, but JOHNSON continued to serve. On 11 April 1919 his appointment was terminated after being deemed “Medically Unfit for Active Service”. JOHNSON received the 1914/15 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal in recognition of his service. On his return to Australia, JOHNSON practised medicine in Albany and was involved in several community groups and activities: President of the Albany sub-branch of the RSL (1923), Vice President of the Albany Cricket Association (1924). JOHNSON is associated with the official unveiling of Albany’s Roll of Honour Board’ on 25 April 1924 which features the names of 597 personnel who enlisted from Albany in the First World War. In addition, he was associated with the Albany Ambulance Brigade and conducted their First Aid examinations, assisted by Dr Arthur HOME. In 1928 JOHNSON and his wife left Albany for Perth and later travelled to North America and England in 1929 to observe the “splendid advances … made in the use of radiology”.
(The Daily News Tuesday 23 April 1929, p7). After his death on 18 January 1949, JOHNSON’s wife, Ruth, bequeathed $400 to the University of Western Australia for the ongoing “Maurice Buchan Johnson Prize in Botany”, awarded to the biology student majoring in and achieving the highest mark in ‘Plant Diversity and Conservation’. This prize continues today.

Keywords

First World War

Australian Army Medical Corps

Major Maurice Buchan JOHNSON

Year

c. 1915

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Object’s condition or completeness