| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | PR05292 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | Extent: 1 cm; Wallet/s: 1 |
| Object type | Letter, Document |
| Maker |
Austin, Austin Frank Unknown |
| Place made | Australia, Borneo, Cyprus, Egypt |
| Date made | 1941-1945 |
| Access | Open |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copying Provisions | Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required. |
Austin, Austin Frank (Captain, b.1914 – d.1945)
Description
Collection relating to the Second World War service of NX34737 Captain Austin Frank Austin, 7 Australian Division Cavalry Regiment and 2/9 Australian Armoured Regiment, Second Australian Imperial Force, Egypt, Cyprus, Australia and Borneo, 1941-1945.
Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of 13 letters and one document relating to Captain Austin Frank Austin, dated 1941 to 1945.
12 letters written by Captain Austin to his mother, Mrs Marian Sinclaire Austin (neé Kennedy), and sister, Mrs Eleanor Austin Campbell, during his service with 7 Australian Division Cavalry Regiment in Egypt and Cyprus, and 2/9 Australian Armoured Regiment in Australia and Borneo, dated 2 June 1941 to 8 April 1945. In these letters he writes regarding his movements, daily operations, health, recreational activities, fellow servicemen, local weather, sightings of foreign birds, receipt of parcels and sends his regards to family back home at Lake Midgeon, Narrandera, New South Wales. Throughout the letters Captain Austin references seeing his brother, NX155 Major Gerald William Austin, and relays information back home regarding his health and movements.
One hand written letter by C Life, c 1945. The letter sends sympathies from Queensland’s Hereford cattle breeders in regards to Captain Austin’s recent death.
One typed document written by F/O Latham of the Royal Australian Air Force, c 1945. This document contains a poem titled ‘War Graves on Tarakan’, and the names of three servicemen, including Captain Austin Frank Austin, listed as killed in action at Tarakan, Borneo.
History / Summary
Captain Austin Frank Austin enlisted with the Second Australian Imperial Force in Paddington, New South Wales on 14 June 1940. Captain Austin initially served with 7 Division Cavalry Regiment in the Middle East until 1 July 1942. He was then transferred into 2/9 Australian Armoured Regiment, completing training and studies in Australia. On 4 April 1945 he was posted to Morotai, Indonesia. Captain Austin Frank Austin was killed in action on 10 May 1945 in Tarakan, Borneo. He is commemorated at Labuan War Cemetery, Labuan, Malaysia.