(Brigadier I.S. Johnston (left) talking with Major-General B.M. Hoffmeister at 5th Canadian Armoured Division Headquarters near Otterloo, Netherlands, 16 April 1945. P0618

Brigadier Johnston at the time was Acting Major General, a rank that would have been confirmed if the war had lasted a couple of weeks longer. Johnston was  the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada from the landings at Pachino, Sicily in July 1943 to the breaching of the Hitler Line defences at Pontecorvo, south of Rome. He was promoted then to Brigadier of 11 Brigade then again to command the 5th Canadian Armoured Division.