Pte
Matthew Herbert Austin
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1893 |
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Place of birth: Clifton, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Victoria Street, Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, Australia |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 707 |
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Enlistment date: 29/12/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 35th Bn. (Newcastle's Own Regiment) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Augustus Wood, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Cemetery
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Passchendaele New British Cemetery Plot: XIII Row: F Grave: 5 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Matthew Herbert Austin, a former labourer, was born in March 1893 in Clifton, Queensland, Australia. He was the youngest child in a family of five. His parents emigrated from Wolverhampton, England to Australia in 1875. When Matthew was 15 years old, he quit school to work as a sailor on a merchant ship. Four years later he decides to try his luck as a miner in the Stanford Merthyr colliery in Kurri Kurri. During this period, Austin also started cycling. He especially exceled track racing the local velodrome and wins many local and regional races. In 1914 Matthew marries Elizabeth Ellenor Roberts. On 14 December 1915, his son Donald Hugh Austin is born. Two weeks later, on the 29th, Matthew volunteered for the army. In March 1916 he is assigned to 'C' Company of the 35th Battalion Australian Infantry, part of the 9th Australian Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division.
At the end of November 1916 Private Austin arrives in France. The first offensive in which the 35th Battalion Australian Infantry is deployed is the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. On 12 October 1917, the battalion again goes into the attack with the objective of capturing Passchendaele. The 3rd Australian Division attacks at 5.25 am with two brigades, the 9th and 10th Australian Brigade. The attack of the 9th Australian Brigade, positioned just east of Tyne Cot, is carried out by the 34th and 35th Battalion. The 34th Battalion A.I.F. moved forward but heavy fire on the start line caused confusion. It was difficult to tell which barrage came from their own artillery and which from the other side. The 35th Battalion A.I.F., who supports the attack, are able to take Defy Crossing, Hillside Farm and Augustus Wood. As they advance along the road to Passchendaele, they find several wounded men of the 66th Division hiding in shell holes since the attack on 9 October. They get as far as Passchendaele itself, where several patrols move through the deserted village. However, the attack is not strong enough to hold the newly captured positions and the men must withdraw to their original positions.
Matthew Herbert Austin, aged 24, was killed in action on October 12, 1917. Private Austin was last seen during the attack and was reported missing. After gathering witness reports this was changed to “killed in action” on 18 August 1918. Private Austin was initially buried near Augustus Wood at 28.D.17.a.5.8. His remains were exhumed on 8 May 1920 and interred at Passchendaele New British Cemetery, plot XIII, row F, grave 5.
At the end of November 1916 Private Austin arrives in France. The first offensive in which the 35th Battalion Australian Infantry is deployed is the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. On 12 October 1917, the battalion again goes into the attack with the objective of capturing Passchendaele. The 3rd Australian Division attacks at 5.25 am with two brigades, the 9th and 10th Australian Brigade. The attack of the 9th Australian Brigade, positioned just east of Tyne Cot, is carried out by the 34th and 35th Battalion. The 34th Battalion A.I.F. moved forward but heavy fire on the start line caused confusion. It was difficult to tell which barrage came from their own artillery and which from the other side. The 35th Battalion A.I.F., who supports the attack, are able to take Defy Crossing, Hillside Farm and Augustus Wood. As they advance along the road to Passchendaele, they find several wounded men of the 66th Division hiding in shell holes since the attack on 9 October. They get as far as Passchendaele itself, where several patrols move through the deserted village. However, the attack is not strong enough to hold the newly captured positions and the men must withdraw to their original positions.
Matthew Herbert Austin, aged 24, was killed in action on October 12, 1917. Private Austin was last seen during the attack and was reported missing. After gathering witness reports this was changed to “killed in action” on 18 August 1918. Private Austin was initially buried near Augustus Wood at 28.D.17.a.5.8. His remains were exhumed on 8 May 1920 and interred at Passchendaele New British Cemetery, plot XIII, row F, grave 5.
Sources 7
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35th Infantry Battalion (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/52/4). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1342686 Sources used |
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9th Infantry Brigade (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/9/12). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1355111 Sources used |
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Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), RCDIG1064166). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Bostyn, Franky et al. Passchendaele 1917, het verhaal van de doden en Tyne Cot Cemetery (Roeselare: Roularta Group, 2007), 219-221. Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele the day-by-day account (London: Uniform, London, 2018), 113-115. Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461114 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=30ebec21-d3f6-45e0-ae4b-ef4943253293 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=9498 |