These medals were awarded to Sergeant John Ritchie Johnston for his service during World War Two. Consisting of The Star, The Pacific Star, The Defence Medal, The War Medal, The Australian Service Medal and The Efficiency Medal, they were given to Johnston in recognition of military service with the Australian Army. Johnston had enlisted in the 2/9th Field Ambulance as part of the Australian Army's 8th Division that participated in the defence of Malaya and Singapore from 1941-1942. The 2/9th Field Ambulance was part of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps (RAAMC), which was responsible for providing medical attention and care to Australian army personnel. With the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942, Johnston was captured by the Japanese and spent the rest of the Occupation in Changi as a Prisoner-of-War (POW) until the end of war.
