Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The funeral of the late Lieut. Joseph Austen, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Austen, of 'Carnham’, Upper Clarence, who was killed in a car accident in Sydney on Saturday, took place at Grafton yesterday, and was largely attended. After the service in Christ Church Cathedral, which was almost filled, the cortege moved to the Grafton Cemetery.
Col. E. A. Woodward represented the 15th Light Horse Regiment, to which Lieut. Austen belonged before joining the A.I.F., and Capt. C. W. R. McMahon represented Brigadier E. T. H. Harnett, V.D., Commandant A Infantry Training Brigade (Tam worth) and Lieut.-Col. H. A. Youden, D.S.O., V. D., Commandant of the 1st Infantry Training Battalion (Tamworth).
Pallbearers were Captain McMahon, Sergt. A. E. Dowell, M. Hegney, A. Maurer, E. J. Lollback and S. Gainford.
Amongst many beautiful floral tributes were wreaths from the residents of Copmanhurst, the residents of Fine Flower, officers and N.C.O.'s and men No. 1 Coy. 1st Infantry Training Battalion, A.I.F. (Tamworth) ; officers and men of the 15th Light Horse Regiment (Greta) and the president and councillors of Copmanhurst Shire. The Rev. M. Atterbury-Thomas, of Copmanhurst, conducted the service in the Cathedral and at the graveside.
At the Cathedral service Rev. Canon Rettick who assisted Rev. Atterbury-Thomas, said the late Lieut. Joe Austen had endeared himself to a large circle of friends, and the crowded cathedral was eloquent testimony to his popularity and the high esteem in which he had been held by all.
The moment Joe Austen decided to fight for the right to live and let live and the right for the weak to enjoy the same privileges as the strong, was also the moment when he laid his all on the altar of service and sacrifice. It mattered not if he fell by bullet on the battle front or the unforeseen accident that occurred. His life was complete, and his service acceptable in the service of God and humanity. This was the spirit of Christianity, of Anzac, and of the cause to which, by God's grace, we must all be dedicated until victory, said Canon Rettick. – The Daily Examiner, Grafton, issue dated Tuesday November 18, 1941.