S10208
GRYST, Austin Elmer
| Service Number: | 17688 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 September 1916, Medical Corps Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Mount Barker, South Australia, 12 January 1889 |
| Home Town: | Exeter, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Chemist |
| Died: | Kilkenny, South Australia, 22 October 1955, aged 66 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board (2), Goodwood Mostyn Lodge No 18 S.A.C. Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 17688, Reinforcements WW1, Medical Corps Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 17688, Army Medical Corps (AIF), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '23' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Melbourne embarkation_ship_number: A16 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jul 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 17688, 12th Field Ambulance | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 17688 |
Help us honour Austin Elmer Gryst's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Austin Elmer Gryst was born on 12th January 1889 at Mount Barker, South Australia, to parents Florence Elizabeth Pollard and Edward Fisher Gryst. At the time of enlistment, he was single and working as a Chemist. His papers noted his religion as the Church of England. When he enlisted on 11th September 1916, Austin was 27 years and 7 months of age. His medical examination described him as 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with blue eyes, brown hair, and a medium complexion.
On 16th July 1917, Gryst embarked for service overseas with the Australian Imperial Force. When he landed in Liverpool, he sent the 3rd Australian Medical Corps for training. After just over a month in England, he was sent to France to join the medical units. Gryst was placed within the 12th Field Ambulance, part of the battalion structure supporting Australian troops in France. Throughout his time on the Western Front, he was hospitalised due to sickness on the 16th of February 1918. He rejoined 3 days later as a reinforcement for his unit.
On the 26th of June 1919, he was sent to London “on duty”, on the 19th of February 1919 he rejoined the 12th Field Ambulance. In just under a month, he transferred to nonmilitary employment in England, and a day later, on the 16th of March 1919, he moved to Southampton from France. 6 days later, he was sent back to the Australian medical corps training depot. On the 27th of March 1919, Gryst then travelled to Liverpool, preparing to sail back to Australia. He disembarked on the ship “Khyber” on the 31st of March 1919. He disembarked in Adelaide 9th May 1919.
After returning to civilian life, Austin lived in South Australia and resumed working as a Chemist until his passing on 22nd October 1955, at the age of 66 years. He was laid to rest in North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, South Australia.His name is commemorated on the Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WWI Honour Board (2) and the Goodwood Mostyn Lodge No. 18 S.A.C. Roll of Honour.
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