George Robert Austin
Personal details
| Mother's name | Eliza Austin (nee Blake) |
| Father's name | Thomas Austin |
| Date of death | Tuesday 15 May 1917 |
| Place of death | Bullecourt, France |
| Cause of death | Killed in action |
Service details
| Date enlisted | Thursday 30 September 1915 |
| Rank at enlistment | Private |
| Rank at discharge | Private |
| Service | Infantry |
| Unit | 54th Battalion |
| Company | C |
| Awards | British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Story
George Austin (Service No 4252) was born around 1895 in Sydney, NSW He enlisted when he was 20 years old, a few months after his father, Thomas Austin (Service No 2232), enlisted. George was single, lived in Wollongong, NSW and worked as a hairdresser. He had served 18 months with the Cadets.
George embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A60 Aeneas with 13th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion on 20th December 1915. The troops arrived in Egypt on 16th February 1916, and on 21st February George was transferred to C Company, 54th battalion.
He arrived in France on 29th June 1916 and survived the slaughter of Fromelle. The Battalions were so depleted by Fromelle they were sent to England for rest and training for some months. George did not return to France until 23rd January 1917.
On 15th May 1917 he was fighting at Bullecourt when he was killed in action.
There is no known grave for George; he is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneaux. His father was injured at Gallipoli and returned to Australia for further treatment. He was discharged (medically unfit) in May, 1916.
Information sources
NAA: B2455, AUSTIN G RRelated links
http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1457637/AUSTIN,%20GEORGE%20ROBERT
https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=9439
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1732450/
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1813369/