| Regimental number | 707 |
| Place of birth | Clifton, New South Wales |
| School | Helensburgh Public School, New South Wales |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Address | Victoria Street, Kurri Kurri, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 23 |
| Height | 5' 5.5" |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs Elizabeth Austin, c/o Mrs H Roberts, Rawson Street, Kurri Kurri, New South Wales |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 35th Battalion, C Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/52/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A24 Benalla on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 35th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Passchendaele, Ypres, Belgium |
| Age at death | 25 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 24 |
| Place of burial | Passchendaele New British Cemetery (Plot XIII, Row F, Grave 5), Belgium |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 124 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Emily and Thomas COULSON; husband of Elizabeth AUSTIN, Rawson Street, Kurri Kurri, New South Wales |
| Other details |
War service: Western Front Embarked Sydney, 1 May 1916; disembarked Plymouth, England, 9 July 1916. Proceeded overseas to France, 21 November 1916. Admitted to 11th Australian Field Ambulance, 18 July 1917 (debility); transferred to 9th Australian Field Ambulance, 20 July 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 30 July 1917. Admitted to 4th Australian Field Ambulance, 10 August 1917, and transferred to Divisional Rest Station (blistered feet); to Divisional Rest Camp, 14 August 1917; rejoined Bn, in the field, 17 August 1917. Reported missing in action, 12 October 1917. Court of Enquiry, 15 May 1918, concluded: 'Killed in action, 12 October 1917.' Undated statement, Red Cross File, 1877 Pte A. TURNER, 35th Bn (patient, 3rd Southern General Hospital, Oxford, England): 'I saw Pte Austin ... after he was dead and lying down at the Reg. Aid Post. We made an attack at Zonnebeke on Oct. 12 which was not a success and we had to come back MBV. We were relieved on the morning of the 14th October and I saw him at an old Pill Box which had been made into an Aid Post. As far as I could see he had been killed by a M.G. Bullet in the head. Someone passed the remark to me "There is poor old [?]." That was his nickname.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, AUSTIN Matthew Herbert
Red Cross File No 0170302D |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
