Additions will be checked before being published on the website and where possible will be forwarded to the person who submitted the original entries. Your contact details will not be forwarded, but they can send a reply via this messaging system.
please scroll down to send a message
L/Cpl. William Arthur Austen
British Army 7th Battalion Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry
from:12 Granvilles Flats, Westham, Weymouth
(d.13th September 1917)
William Austen was the son of William and Nellie Austen. Husband to Ethel Dora Bartley, and father to 3 young daughters, Barbara (29 Aug 1912), Gwendolyn (5 December 1914) and Christina (22 Dec 1916).
He enlisted in Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry at the Red Lion Hotel, Crewkerne, Somerset, he had formerly served with the West Somerset Yeomanry.
From his diary "went into action at Goodecourt over the top came out from trenches went back to Meault staid a week went from Meault to Corby had a month at Corby. Went over the top at Langemarck on the 16th August 1917 got relieved on the 19th of August 1917"
Just a month later he was killed. Extract from the letter from Captain WS Robins who wrote to his widow Ethel Dora Austen (formerly Bartley) "He got killed by shell fire on Pelkim (Pilckem) Ridge just behind Langemark in Belgium. He was helping to carry a wounded man to the dressing station when he was killed by a shell".
