John enlisted as a soldier in 1791 in the 102 Regiment of the NSW Corps at Marlow, Bicks, England.John
arrived 1792 aboard the ship 'Britannia'. He was stationed in Sydney
and Norfolk Island, until the end of the first settlement of the island
.The New South Wales Corps ( The Rum Corps) was formed in
England in 1789 as permanent regiment to relieve the marines who had
accompanied the First Fleet. The regiment, led by Major Francis Grose
consisted of three companies to begin with and due to the remoteness
and unpopularity of the posting they were comprised of officers on half
pay, troublemakers, soldiers paroled from military prisons , soldiers
enlisted from general prisons such as Savoy Prison, ex convicts in New
South Wales and Marines (who wished to remain) commanded by Captain
George Johnston ,Governor Phillip's aide-de-camp. The regiment
began arriving as guards on the Second Fleet in 1790. Major Grose
arrived in Sydney in 1792 to take command and assume role of
Lieutenant-Governor of the Colony.The Corps only saw action once in NSW
at the Battle of Vinegar Hill. Late on the 4th of March 1804, 266
Irish rebels revolted on a government farm at Castle Hill, armed
themselves with muskets and pikes, and planned to sack Parramatta.
Major Johnston led 29 soldiers of the NSW Corps on a forced march
overnight to Parramatta and then the following day, with 50 militia,
they pursued the rebels who were now heading to Windsor. After catching
the rebels, Johnston took the ringleaders hostage when they refused to
surrender and the troops quickly put down the revolt. Major Johnston
was highly commended for his actions by Governor King..