Augustus Gallen

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Tue, 16/05/2017 - 12:40

First Name:

Augustus

Last Name:

Gallen

Date of Birth:

Friday, February 10, 1882

Mother's Name:

Margaret Gallen nee Egan

Father's Name:

William Gallen

Date Enlisted:

Friday, March 16, 1917

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

3rd Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Date of Death:

Tuesday, December 6, 1932

Place of Death:

Sydney Harbour

Cause of Death:

Suicide

Details:

Augustus Gallen (Service No 7355) was born in Shellharbour, N.S.W. In 1910 he was sentenced to serve one year at Goulburn Gaol for robbery.

At enlistment Augustus was single, 36 years old and worked as a butcher. He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT A46 Clan Macgillivray with 3rd Battalion, 24th Reinforcement on 10th May 1917.

He arrived in England on 21st July 1917 then joined 3rd Battalion in France on 26th November 1917.

Augustus saw service on the Western Front until he was wounded in action on 30th September 1918 when he was evacuated to hospital for treatment of shrapnel wounds to his side.

He was transferred to No 2 Company Army Service Corps on 11th January 1919. He was returned to Australia in August 1919 and discharged from the AIF on 10th October 1919.

In December 1932 Augustus jumped from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Peak hour ferries raced to his aid but he had died instantly. Evidence at a Coroner's hearing found that Augusus had been living at Leichhardt and had been unemployed for some time. His was the 13th death from the bridge since it opened.

August is buried in Rookwood cemetery in Sydney.

His brother William also served and died of wounds in 1918.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, GALLEN A