Augustus Milton East

Submitted by wollongongcityl... on Wed, 23/04/2014 - 11:37

First Name:

Augustus

Middle Name:

Milton

Last Name:

East

Alternate Spelling:

Gus

Mother's Name:

Katie East (nee Gardener)

Father's Name:

Alfred Thomas

Date Enlisted:

Monday, October 30, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Unit:

19th Battalion

Company:

D Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, May 18, 1918

Place of Death:

Morlancourt, France

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Augustus (Gus) Milton East was born in 1893, the son of Alfred and Katie East of Shellharbour. During the First World War he joined the 18th Battalion AIF to serve overseas. On 19 May 1918 he was wounded by a machine gun and then killed in action by a shell whilst walking to the aid post. Gus was only 25 years old.

He is buried at Beacon British Cemetery, Plot 1, Row A, Grave 10. Sailly Laurette, France.

Tongarra Museum holds a collection of significant items relating to Gus; the legacy he left behind includes war diaries, letters, mementos from overseas and a souvenir ‘wartime’ scarf bought for his sister Marjorie. These precious objects describe Augustus’ experience at war and the way in which his family dealt with his death.

What is particularly of note is the concern from Augustus for his family in Australia while he was fighting at war. His thoughts were always with his family and home, even as he was enduring the horrors of war.

One of the letters Gus wrote was to the James girls of Dunmore.

The items were treasured by his family after his death and are now treasured by the museum and local community. They were donated to the museum by Gus’ niece.

Sources:

NAA:B2455, EAST A M