Career
Earlier he was a serving officer in the Royal Australian Navy and commanded HMAS Vendetta (D08) in the Vietnam War. Later he commanded HMAS Perth (D38) from 15 May 1976 to 5 January 1978. After Cyclone Tracy, as Naval Officer Commanding Northern Australia, he was involved in the administration of emergency naval assistance.
The Eric Johnston Lectures of the Northern Territory Library were named in his honour.
He gave the first Lecture in 1986.