Matthew Herbert Austin

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Mon, 28/09/2015 - 14:55

First Name:

Matthew

Middle Name:

Herbert

Last Name:

Austin

Mother's Name:

Emily Austin Dyson

Father's Name:

Thomas Coulson

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, December 29, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

35th Battalion

Company:

C Company

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Friday, October 12, 1917

Place of Death:

Passchendaele Belgium

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Details:

Matthew Austin (Service No 707) was born in Clifton, NSW about 1892 and attended Helensburgh Public School. At the time of enlistment he was a married 23 year old labourer who enlisted in Newcastle. In 1914 he married Elizabeth Roberts and when he embarked he left her and a baby son behind. Matthew embarked on HM AT A 24 Benalla with C Company, 35th Battalion on 1st May 1916 and arrived in England on 9th July 1916.

After training in England he was sent to France on 21st November 1916. On 18th July 1917 he was admitted to hospital sick but returned to his unit on 30th July. He was again in hospital sick for a week in August. He was a company signaller and while fighting at Passchendaele he was killed in action. He is buried in Passchendaele New British Cemetery Plot XIII, Row F, Grave 5.

His file notes pension to be paid to his wife Elizabeth and son Donald. He also lists a pension to an ex-nuptial child Mary and names the mother.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, AUSTIN M H