Mystery Man: Doctor J Hughston

 

The Essendon Gazette of 10 June 1915,  in its For King and Country column,  carried the photo of a young man in civilian dress with a subheading.  There was no article to explain the reference or nor does his name appear on the Roll Of Honour either then or in the succeeding three years of the War.  Who was this man and why did the Essendon Gazette think that this could be of interest to readers?

Never one to ignore a challenge, Marilyn Kenny set out to solve the mystery of this youthful doctor.  She details her findings in an article Mystery Man: Major Johnston Hughston RAMC.

Staff Nurse Lilian Rutherford

Staff Nurse Lilian Rutherford

Lilian Rutherford joined her sister Linda in Salonika in 1917.  Authorities would not approve leave to the UK for nursing staff at Salonika until mere days before the Armistice, and once the war ended the Rutherford sisters were granted leave in the UK, Linda leaving a few days before Lilian.  On 1 January 1919, Lilian was awarded a Royal Red Cross "in recognition of her valuable services with the British Forces in Salonika".

Royal Red Cross

Sister Linda Rutherford of Essendon

The sisters' quarters at No 66 British General Hospital on Hortiach Plateau, Salonika.

The British and Australian soldiers who served at Salonika endured harsh winters and hot summers  under canvas, subject to illness, particularly malaria.   Sister Linda Rutherford also endured these conditions.  Click on the link to read her story.