Robert Austin was my grandmother’s cousin. His service record shows that he was a Private in the 5th/ 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (a Territorial battalion). He appears to have already been a member of the battalion at the outbreak of the Great War when it was called up for service at the Armoury in his home town of Bury, Lancashire. In September 1914, the battalion had reached Egypt. It sailed to the Dardanelles in May 1915.

The photograph is from a postcard showing him in uniform with a template border showing the regimental colours and battle honours . This was probably taken in a studio before the battalion left England.

Robert died on 6 June 1915, aged 18. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial. From the date of his death, it is likely that he was casualty of the 3rd Battle of Krithia which began on 4 June 1915.

His service record shows that he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. A bronze memorial plaque with his name (also known as the “Death medal”) was issued to his next-of-kin together with a commemorative scroll signed (in reproduction) by King George V. My grandmother inherited these medals and often showed them to me during my childhood. Sadly, they were later stolen from her home during a “distraction” robbery by thieves masquerading as water board officials to gain entry.

He is also named on the War Memorial at St. Mark’s Church, Brookshaw Road, Bury (demolished in 1985 and replaced by a Salvation Army citadel). This commemorates “the boys from St. Mark’s Church and Schools who laid down their lives for God, King and Country in the Great War 1914-1918”.

His name was read out as part of the Roll of Honour at the Tower of London on 30th August 2014.

Michael Lomax