AUSTIN, George James
Post date: Mar 06, 2016 11:3:16 PM
Able Seaman, Merchant NavyBorn 22/05/1897 in Grimsby
Died 01/08/1940, Age 43, at Immingham (stone says age at death was 40, but death records say age 43 and census/birth records agree with the latter)
Buried 04/09/1940
Son of Charles William Austin, a dry dock labourer (painting) originally from Maldon in Essex and his wife Wilhelmina Sutherland Bain, who was born in the Orkney Islands. Wilhelmina’s family arrived in Grimsby around 1868. Charles had arrived in Lincolnshire by 1881 when he married Wilhelmina and for many years was a fisherman before turning to painting.
In 1901, the family are living at 148 Kent Street and George’s father is now working as a ships’ painter.
In 1911, the family are living at 12 Humber Square, Humber Street, Grimsby. The Austins have been married for 30 years and the census records that George was one of nine children born to the couple, six of whom are still living in 1911.
World War One – George enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve on 21/08/1916. Address at the time was 39 Rutland Street, Grimsby. Vessels he was attached to are listed as the HMS Pekin, Halycon, Boadicea, Glory and Implacable. His RNR record describes him as 5 ft 10 in tall, fair, with grey eyes, 35 inch chest and two scars on his head. He was demobilized from the HMS Pekin in August 1919. A change of address to 26 Grafton Street has been made at some point.In 1922, he married Alice Eyeions in Cleethorpes. Alice was originally born in Sheffield in 1900, the daughter of a fireman.
The 1935 local directory lists George as a fisherman and living at 20 Hart Street, Cleethorpes.
In 1939, Alice is living at 20 Hart Street, Cleethorpes with daughter Sylvia (born 06/06/1927). George is presumably away at sea.
20 Hart Street is given as George’s address at the time of his death.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Historical Society website reports that George Austin was attached to the RFA Limol (pictured above) at the time of his death, a 1,000t CREOSOL Class Harbour Oiler. The month before George’s death, the vessel was sailing from Middlesbrough to the Humber in convoy FS217. The vessel underwent repairs at Immingham during September and then returned to the convoys.