Maurice Austin OBE DSO (1916 - 1985)

Born 15 Dec 1916 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Enid Veronica (Lyons) Austin — married 26 Sep 1940 in Glen Iris, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Died 13 Oct 1985 at age 68 in Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia

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Biography

Maurice Austin OBE DSO is Notable.

Brigadier Maurice 'Bunny' Austin DSO OBE was a senior Australian Army officer who served in the Second Australian Imperial Force in the Second World War and led the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in the Korean War. His senior appointments included Commandant Jungle Training Centre, Commander Logistic Support Force and Director Personnel Services. On retirement from the army he was appointed the Australian Army Historian.

Maurice Austin was born in 15th December 1916 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. He was the son of Eugene Austin, a grocer, and Helena Collins. ^[1] Following formal education at Christian Brothers’ College, Geelong, Maurice entered Royal Military College (RMC), Duntroon, in March 1935.

He gained the nickname 'Bunny' from his surname association with Thomas Austin (no relation), who is believed to have been the first person to introduce rabbits to Australia.

Maurice Austin OBE DSO is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 1935-1971
Second Australian Imperial Force; 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, Korea; Jungle Training Centre, Canungra; Army Headquarters Canberra

Upon graduation from RMC Maurice was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Australian Army in December 1938 and was posted to the Darwin Mobile Force. On 30th April 1940 he transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force, his nation's overseas expeditionary force for the Second World War. ^[2] Just weeks later, France collapsed and the famous Dunkirk evacuation took place. Maurice was appointed adjutant of the newly-formed 2/27th Australian Infantry Battalion.

On 26th September 1940 in St Roch's Roman Catholic Church, Glen Iris, Victoria, Maurice married Enid Veronica Lyons (1920-88), ^[3] daughter of Joe Lyons, Tasmanian Premier in 1923 and the 10th Prime Minister of Australia in 1932, ^[4] and Enid Burnell (later Dame Enid Lyons). ^[5]

In February 1941 Maurice was appointed brigade major of the 21st Brigade, but two months later he was sent to the Middle East Staff School, Haifa, Palestine, thus missing the Syrian campaign, and in August he was posted to the AIF (Middle East) Junior Staff School as an instructor. In February 1942, he was one of the officers despatched by air to General Sir Archibald Wavell’s headquarters in Java. However, due to the proximity and threat of invasion by the Japanese Empire he was diverted to Broome, Western Australia. He became an instructor at the Staff School (Australia), Duntroon, in April 1942. In March 1943, now a Major, he moved to Advanced Land Headquarters, Brisbane, before going to the operations branch of Headquarters New Guinea Force, in August. Appointed brigade major of the 29th Brigade in December, he joined it at Lae. The brigade arrived on Bougainville in November 1944 and was involved in limited operations against the Japanese. In May 1945 Maurice was transferred as an instructor to RMC Duntroon. He was Mentioned in Despatches (equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry), but in five years of war service had not been given a command. ^[6]

Promoted to temporary Lieutenant Colonel in October 1946, Maurice was posted to the Australian Military Mission, Washington DC. Four years in the United States of America on Australian pay was a trying experience for the Austins with four children. Returning to Australia in May 1950, he became general staff officer, 1st grade, of the 3rd Division. In June 1952 he was appointed commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), ^[6] but on 20th October he was suddenly transferred to command 1RAR, then deployed to South Korea in the Korean War. ^[7] A stranger to the battalion, he faced an aggressive enemy in mountainous country and bitter winter. For his successful conduct of operations, particularly in defending Hill 355, he was appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in June 1953. ^[8] The battalion returned to Australia in March 1953 (replaced by 2RAR) and in November Maurice was sent to Western Command as chief administrative staff officer. ^[6]

As director of infantry (1954-57) at Army Headquarters, Melbourne, Maurice re-wrote the Manual of Infantry Minor Tactics. He was promoted to Colonel in June 1955 in which rank he commanded the Jungle Training Centre, Canungra, Queensland, in 1957-58, following which he enjoyed postings as Eastern Command (1958-59) and commander 1st Logistic Support Force (1960-61). ^[6] He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in June 1962. ^[9]

He went to Army Headquarters, Canberra, in January 1962 as director of personnel services. Maurice became deputy adjutant-general in November 1964 and was promoted to Brigadier in February 1965. ^[6] Aged 55 years, he went onto the Retired List on 3rd February 1971, ^[2] and was appointed army historian – he could now follow his passion. In 1979, his research culminated in the publication of The Army in Australia 1840-50. He was a member of the armed services working party of the Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) and author of articles for the ADB and service journals. From 1981 to 1983 he was editor of the Journal of the Royal United Services Institute of Australia. During this period Maurice was also a member of the Australian War Memorial’s military historical atlas committee (1982-83) and consultant to the Australian Heritage Commission (1981-84). ^[6]

Maurice passed away, aged 69 years ten months, on 13th October 1985 in the Royal Canberra Hospital, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, and is buried in Gungahlin Cemetery, Mitchell. He was survived by Enid, their two daughters and three sons, sons- and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #30129/1916
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: 110 (QX6158, VP16020) Brigadier Maurice Austin; accessed 11 Apr 2022
3. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #13628/1940
4. ↑ Hart, P R and Lloyd, C J. 'Lyons, Joseph Aloysius (Joe) (1879–1939)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1986; accessed online 11 Apr 2022
5. ↑ Langmore, Diane. 'Lyons, Dame Enid Muriel (1897–1981)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2012; accessed online 11 Apr 2022
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6} Hill, A J. 'Austin, Maurice (Bunny) (1916–1985)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2007; accessed online 11 Apr 2022
7. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: 110 Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Austin; accessed 11 Apr 2022
8. ↑ Australian Honours: DSO; accessed 11 Apr 2022
9. ↑ Australian Honours: OBE; accessed 11 Apr 2022

See also

• Hill, A J. 'Austin, Maurice (Bunny) (1916–1985)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2007; accessed online 11 Apr 2022.
• Wikipedia: 'Maurice Austin'; accessed 28 Apr 2022.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #90249069