{"id":162,"date":"2016-11-25T20:07:39","date_gmt":"2016-11-25T20:07:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/rochesterborstalfirstworldwar\/?p=162"},"modified":"2016-11-25T20:11:23","modified_gmt":"2016-11-25T20:11:23","slug":"austin-arthur-frederick-1888-1916","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/rochesterborstalfirstworldwar\/2016\/11\/25\/austin-arthur-frederick-1888-1916\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin, Arthur Frederick (1888-1916)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eldest son of Frederick and Alice Jane Austin born 6 December 1888<\/strong><\/p>\n

1891 Census Aged 2 living at Woolmer Green, Welwyn, Hatfield, Herts with his parents and three elder sisters. Father is an agricultural labourer.<\/p>\n

1901 Census aged 12 living at Westland Road, Knebworth, Hitchen, Herts with his parents and 5 siblings, his two older sisters aren\u2019t listed. His father is listed as a platelayer on the Great Northern Railway<\/p>\n

1911 Census aged 22 HMS Caesar at Devonport. Private in Royal Marines Light Infantry<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"arthur-frederick-austin\"<\/p>\n

1912 Married Eliza Jane Cordingley (pictured above) on 25th<\/sup> December 1912 at St John\u2019s Church, Chatham.<\/p>\n

Military Career<\/strong><\/p>\n

Enlisted as Private CH\/15717 \u00a0Royal Marines Light Infantry: Chatham Division 14 January 1907 Recruit Depot Deal<\/p>\n

In between spells at Chatham Depot he spent time on HMS Hannibal, Caesar, Formidable, Cressy, Aquarius and Conquest<\/p>\n

5 feet 7 \u00bd inches tall, fresh complexion, dark brown hair, grey eyes. Trade – Coachman<\/p>\n

Died 28 March 1916 Killed or died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action, His ship was HMS Conquest, death recorded as at Walton on the Naze.<\/p>\n

\"arthur-frederick-austin-grave\"<\/p>\n

SHIP’S BOAT FROM HMS CONQUEST LOST OFF HARWICH<\/p>\n

Conquest, light cruiser, aboard ship’s boat, (listed as a whaler, although if this was the 27ft version, it seems too small for so many men), returning from shore leave, lost in snow storm and foundered, all drowned (42 in total)<\/p>\n

From Hertford Mercury and Reformer 15 April 1916 \u2013<\/p>\n

LOCAL SOLDIER DROWNED \u2013 Private Arthur Frederick Austin aged 27, eldest son of Mr and Mrs F. Austin, Knebworth was drowned during the blizzard on March 28, owing to the capsizing of a cutter. He was returning from shore leave after seeing his wife. He and his comrades were being towed by a steam launch to join H.M.S. Conquest to which the deceased was attached when the sad disaster occurred. His overcoat is all that has been found at present. The painful event was a great shock to the family. Special mention was made of the disaster at both services at the Congregational Church, and special hymns \u201c A few more years shall roll\u201d and \u201cBrief life is here our portion\u201d were sung at the morning service, and \u201cPeace perfect peace\u201d and \u201cNow the day is over\u201d at the evening services.<\/p>\n

Buried in Chatham Cemetery, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent Grave P.P.55<\/p>\n

Widow: Eliza Jane 211, Dale Street, Chatham, Kent<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.everymanremembered.org\/profiles\/soldier\/3056333\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ancestry.com sources<\/p>\n

England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915<\/p>\n

England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906<\/p>\n

1911 Census Class: RG14; Piece: 13027<\/p>\n

The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Admiralty: Naval Casualties, Indexes, War Grave Rolls and Statistics Book, First World War.; Class: ADM 242; Piece: Piece 007; Piece Description: Piece 007 (1914 – 1919)<\/p>\n

UK, Royal Navy and Royal Marine War Graves Roll, 1914-1919<\/p>\n

pre-World War 1 to 2008 – Casualty Lists of the Royal Navy and Dominion Navies<\/p>\n

Researched & compiled by Don Kindell (c) 2008, all rights reserved<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.naval-history.net\/xDKCas1916-03Mar.htm<\/a><\/p>\n

Find My Past sources<\/p>\n

1891 Census Class: RG12; Piece: 1113; Folio: 98; Page: 21<\/p>\n

1901 Census Class: RG13; Piece: 1299; Folio: 98; Page: 21<\/p>\n

Hertford Mercury and Reformer 15 April 1916 Local World Limited\/Trinity Mirror. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD<\/p>\n

Other sources<\/p>\n

De Caville Index http:\/\/foma-lsc.org\/wwi\/detail.php?Entry=126<\/a><\/p>\n

National Archives ADM 159 \u2013 Admiralty: Royal Marines: Registers of Service\/125\/15717<\/p>\n

Royal Marines medal index cards, 1914-1920<\/p>\n

Sources<\/strong><\/p>\n

Biography compiled by Sean Ryan<\/p>\n