S4602
BROOK, Austin
| Service Number: | 621 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 February 1916, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Stansbury, South Australia, Australia, 25 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | Strathalbyn, Alexandrina, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 16 April 1954, aged 56 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Strathalbyn Cemetery, S.A. |
| Memorials: | Coobowie Old Scholars and Teachers WW1 Roll of Honour, Stansbury War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jun 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 621, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Jun 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 621, 43rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 621, 43rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 4 Apr 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1 |
Austin Brook
Austin enlisted in the 43rd Battalion after initially being rejected due to having fluid on the knee. His unit embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A19 Afric on 9 June 1916. He went to France with the 43rd on 25 November. In France on 24 October 1917 he was gassed and sustained gunshot wounds to his hip and back. Consequently, Austin was sent to Northampton War Hospital in England and later Sutton Veny for treatment. He was able to rejoin his unit on the Western Front on 16 February 1918. A bout of bronchitis resulted in another stay in hospital, this time at Bath War Hospital in June 1918. Austin returned to Australia on the Orsova, reaching Adelaide on February 18 1919 and was discharged on 4 April.
Submitted 23 October 2023 by christopher collins
Biography
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Southern Argus (Port Elliot, SA: 1866 - 1954) Thursday 29 April 1954
Passing of Mr. A. F. Brook
While marching with his old comrades in the Anzac Day March in Adelaide on Mon day, Mr. Austin Fred Brook, late of the 43rd Battalion of the A.I.F., suddenly collapsed when the unit was approaching the City Bridge. He was immediately rushed to hospital, but unfortunately had passed away before reaching help. The late Mr. Brook was born at Stansbury, on Yorke's Peninsula, 56 years ago, and was a son of the late Mr. Fred Brook of that town.
At the age of 16 years he left his home district and on the outbreak of World War I he joined the A.I.F., and was placed with the original 43rd Battalion. He saw service in France, where he was not only wounded, but gassed.
On his return to Australia after the war he was married to Miss Cora Margaret Bartram (who also came from the Peninsula district), and the couple moved to Milang where farming pursuits were followed, and where their first son — Ted — was born. After a time Mr Brook came to Strathalbyn with his wife and family, and has resided here ever since.
He finally went into business on his own account, but later again disposed of his interests and went to assist his son, Ted, in the dry cleaning business, which the latter has established.
Besides his wife he leaves three sons — Ted, Reg and Colin (all of Strathalbyn) — while one son — Ken — was killed in action over England while serving with the RAAF in the last war.
The funeral was conducted at the A.I.F. section of the Strathalbyn Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, when a large number of friends and colleagues congregated to pay their last respects to their old comrade. The Rev. W. G. E. Wiltshire officiated at the graveside.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96906970
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