Alfred George Austin

Rank:

Corporal

Regimental number:

83357

Unit at enlistment:

4th Brigade C.F.A., 13th Battery

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Commemorated at:

Independent Order of Foresters

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Kent

Birth city:

Faversham

Address at enlistment:

101 Lyons Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

101 Lyons Avenue, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Plasterer

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Married

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX June 11, 1918

Word was received this morning by Mrs. Austin that her husband, Corporal Alfred George Austin, is very sick in hospital with pneumonia.

BX February 1, 1915

Patriotic Service – St. Andrew’s Congregation Said Farewell and Made Presentations to Four of its Members

Twelve members or adherents of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church have thus far volunteered for active service in the present war and in recognition of the approaching departure of four of these with the third contingent, special service of a patriotic character were conducted on Sunday evening by the pastor, Rev. J.W. Gordon. The church was filled to capacity, despite the inclement weather, and those who were in attendance were amply repaid by the inspiring service.

Captain Finlay D. Fraser who in command of the Dufferin Rifles’ company now being recruited for active service, and Privates A.G. Austin, Horace Underwood and Adam Young are the volunteers from St. Andrew’s Church, who will leave with the third contingent, and who were honored by the fellow members of their church last evening, each receiving through the pastor, Rev. Mr. Gordon the best wishes of the congregation for Godspeed and a safe return, and as a more tangible expression of their good wishes, a handsome silver wrist watch.

An appropriate sermon was delivered by Rev. Mr. Gordon, in which he emphasized his conviction that the cause of the Allies was righteous. Britain was not making war on poor, down spirited Austria-Hungary, or on the bankrupt and misdirected Turk, nor even on the German people themselves. It was to crush Prussian militarism that so much was being and would be sacrificed. A war, however, continued the speaker, became a holy war when militarism and autocracy, as opposed to democracy, were to be settled by its issue. To accomplish this end, Britain’s troops must be trained and equipped efficiently, and Mr. Gordon believed that Kitchener would leave no stone unturned to accomplish the purpose of this great catastrophe and bring to a successful termination this greatest of world wars. Members of his congregation were shortly to leave to fight for a moral and righteous cause, and in the name of God, as a Christian and pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, he invoked the blessing of the Almighty God that their efforts might be crowned with glory and success.

During the service, Miss Estelle Carey, of Hamilton, delighted the audience with two vocal selections by Dudley Smith. “I Will Lay Me Down in Peace” and “Fear Ye Not, O Israel.”