MILNE, Austin Herbert
| Service Number: | 171 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 July 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Field Company Engineers |
| Born: | Fairfield, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 March 1892 |
| Home Town: | Alphington, Darebin, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter, Bank Inspector |
| Died: | Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia, 13 April 1974, aged 82 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Austin's ashes were interred at Banksia Wall Niche D 378. |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Jul 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 171 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep 1914: | Involvement Sapper, 171, 3rd Field Company Engineers, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '5' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Sep 1914: | Embarked Sapper, 171, 3rd Field Company Engineers, HMAT Geelong, Melbourne | |
| 28 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Sapper, 171 |
Help us honour Austin Herbert Milne's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Kaye Brill
Austin Herbert Milne, son of Arthur Kinnear Milne and Rosina Maria Baker was born 15 March 1892 at Fairfeld, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Austin was the youngest child of Arthur and Rosina's six children (2 boys, 4 girls).
Prior to enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force Austin was living in the Melbourne suburb of Alphington and working as a qualified carpenter.
Austin, age 23 years 4 months enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on 20 August 1914 at Melbourne, Victoria, serving initially as a Sapper with the AIF 3rd Field Company Engineers. Austin also served with the AIF 19th Depot Unit of Supply in France.
On 9 September 1914, Austin embarked with his Unit from Williamstown, Victoria on board Transport Ship 'A2 Geelong’ to undertake Army training at Camp Pontville, Tasmania. Austin’s Unit departed Australia 21 October 1914 arriving at the Mena Camp in Egypt where they saw action in the Suez Canal on 15 January 1915.
Austin’s Unit sailed from Alexandria, Egypt on ‘H.M.T City of Benares’ landing at Gallipoli, Anzac Cove, Turkey on 25 April 1915.
Austin served on the Anzac Peninsula until 28 August 1915 when he was evacuated by hospital ship to Malta. Austin was transferred to the UK for ongoing treatment of war wounds and later returned to active service in France where he was stationed at Etaples, Dieppe and Rouen.
Austin was repatriated to Australia on the steamship ‘SS Port Hacking’. The ship arrived in Melbourne, Victoria on 27 January 1919. Austin was discharged from the AIF on 28 March 1919 at Melbourne.
Austin Herbert Milne, Service Number: 171, Rank: Private was awarded the 1914 -1915 Star Medal No 12043; British War Medal No 322 and Victory Medal No 12698 for his service during WW1.
On returning to Australia, Austin resumed his career as a carpenter and builder while living with his parents at 14 Grafton Street, Caulfield West, Victoria
Austin married Alice May Shaw 11 December 1920 at Christ Church, Hawthorn, Victoria. Alice, daughter of Joseph Shaw and Jane Wilson was born 18 May 1895 at Reedy Creek, Victoria, died 5 March 1978 at Montrose, Victoria.
Austin and Alice had four children: Florence Alice (1922 - 1998); Frances Rosina (1924 - 2008); Beryl Janet (1926 - 2012); Austin Joseph (1931 - 2003).
Austin continued to work as a carpenter up until about 1931 after which time and until his retirement he worked as a Bank Inspector with the family living in Mordialloc and Parkdale, Victoria. After retirement in about 1954, Austin and Alice spent their remaining years living at Glen Waverley, Victoria.
Austin died 13 April 1974 age 82 at Heidelberg, Victoria. Austin’s ashes were interred at Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Springvale, Victoria (Banksia Wall Niche D 378).
References:
- Victoria Births, Death and Marriage records
- National Archives of Australia WW1 Service Records
- Australian Electoral Rolls 1903-1980
- Springvale Botanical Cemetery Records
Compiled by Kaye 2021 (Great Granddaughter of Austin’s cousin Mary Elizabeth Milne)