Papers relating to the military career of James Johnston., 1957-2002.
Scope and Contents
Major-General James Johnston was born in Edinburgh in August 1939. He was educated at George’s Watson’s College, Welbeck College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, from which he was commissioned in July 1959 into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He underwent postgraduate training at the Royal Military Academy of science and REME Officers School. His training was completed by 1965 and he served several appointments as commanding officer within Germany and the United Kingdom before undertaking further staff level training at Staff College, Camberley from 1970-1972. He then commanded a workshop division in Germany before returning to Staff College as part of the Directing Staff. In 1979 he became a division commander within the British Army of the Rhine. He was based at BAOR for 10 years before leaving his last appointment, Chief Administrative Officer, in 1989. There was a brief interlude in 1985 when he attended the Royal College of Defence Studies to complete senior strategic level training. His final appointment was as Director of Manning was responsible for reducing the overall size of the army during the early 1990s. Upon retiring from active service, Johnston became involved in the Crown Housing Trust as Chairman Designate, a venture set up to run the MOD estates as a private company, the papers from this period are retained within his archive. He was the trustee of several charities. His personal papers reflect his interests in photography, travel and writing. There is also a vast amount of personal correspondence from his many friends and acquaintances.
Dates
- Creation: 1957-2002.
Creator
- Johnston, James Frederick Junor (Major-General) (Person)
- Army, Great Britain and Ireland (Organization)
- Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, military academy (Organization)
- Royal Military College of Science, college of military science (Organization)
- Ministry of Defence (Great Britain). (Organization)
- Royal electrical and mechanical Engineers (REME) officers school, military technical training school (Organization)
- Army (Great Britain and Ireland) corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. (Organization)
- Army (Great Britain and Ireland). Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 3rd Armoured Division. (Organization)
- Army (Great Britiain and Ireland) Headquarters of the British Army of the Rhine. (Organization)
- Army (Great Britain and Ireland) The Royal Welch Fusiliers. (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Normal access conditions apply.
Conditions Governing Use
Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.
Extent
309 Folders (contains various outsize items such as maps, certificates, technical drawings and photographs.)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
There are several overlaps and gaps within the papers relating to the military career of James Johnston. There were occasions where he changed appointment part way through a year or still maintained some contact with a previous position in the handover stage, so the dates on certain sub-series reflect this. There are some gaps because Johnston did not retain papers for shorter appointments, especially at the beginning of his staff career.
Subject
Repository Details
Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700
manuscripts@nls.uk