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Note: G.W.A. was born on the last day of 1867 in the Gatehouse at Womersley where his father was the gatekeeper. He was the eldest child. of George and Mary Austwick.
During his childhood the family moved around the area - probably due to the employment and housing situation. At the time of the census in 1871 he was living in John`s Yard, Brotherton whilst by 1881 he was living with his parents at Railway Houses in Featherstone, a mining village to the south of Pontefract. He was a `scholar` at the time , along with younger brother Arthur and sister Mary Ann. The youngest of the family was 2 year old Thomas. By the time of the next census in 1891 the family were no longer resident at that address, having returned to Brotherton where G.W.A. was employed as a miner - a job he would remain in all his working life except for a short period of army service.
On the 17th of January, 1900, 33 year old G.W.A. enlisted at Pontefract into the York and Lancaster Regiment (No. 6840) and was posted to the 1st Battalion. When asked if he had any prior service Private G.W.A. declared that he had previously served with the York and Lancaster, though no dates were recorded at the time. This probably indicates that he was a member of the equivalent to the modern day Territorial Army (T.A`.s).
Information recorded on enlistment indicates that G.W.A. was born at Doncaster (not correct) and that his civilian trade was that of labourer. He was described as being 5 foot 3 inches tall, weighing 133 lbs (9st), having brown hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion.
His next of kin, though the recorded entry is not clear, appearred to be Mr. J. Austwick of High Street, Brotherton. This possibly should have been an `G` as his father and mother had lived in Brotherton for many years on and off. There were also other family connections in that his mother Mary (nee Richardson) was originally from the village and the two younger children were both born there.
G.W.A. was posted to South Africa. A very clear record of the exploits of the Yorks & Lancs 1st Battalion exists in a book called the `War Record of the Yorkshire and Lancashire Regiment, 1900 -1902. It was published in 1903 and written by an officer in the regiment called A.H.C. Kearsey who later became a DSO. A copy of this book is available for viewing at the Regimental Museum now housed in Rotherham along with an album of photographs taken by the author.
In the Medal Roll appended to this book a C. Austwick appears along with the number 6840. This is undoubtedly the number of G.W.A. -as inscribed on his medal - and the inaccuracy of initial, mistaking a C for a G, was not uncommon at a time when all records were written in longhand. The medal Roll indicates that he was awarded bars for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal and Laing`s Nek. These tally precisely with those on his medal.
Only two other bars were available to the Yorks & Lancs. These were for Tugela Heights and the Relief of Ladysmith where they were led by Brigadier General Kitchener.
In March they were camped north of Ladysmith at `Surprise Hill` when they were joined by a Voluntary Service Company ` which had mobilised in York in the gloomy weeks at the commencement of 1900, when the fates of Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking lay in the balance`. The company consisted of 2 officers - Lieutenants Chalmers and Boyle with 112 NCO`s and men under the command of Captain Marples and had set sail in the `Guelph` from Southampton to Durban, followed by another draft of 100 men in the `Assaye` under Lt. Moxon. Around the 29th they joined the 1st battalion as `K` Company.
Before long they were on the first of many route marches over rough and hilly country. Each man carried 150 rounds of ammunition, rifle, mess tin and his days rations, water bottle, haversack containing towel and soap, knife, fork and spoon, dubbin, flanellette, water-proof sheet, complete change of underclothing, jersey, cap and greatcoat. The whole weighing some 45 pounds.
Laings Nek was a particularly strategic target and the apparently impenetrable Boer lines were broken and rendered pointless by a series of turning movements by the 1st Battalion so that a position which might so easily seen one of the deadliest and bloody struggles of the whole campaign was evidently carried out with comparatively small loss.
In another skirmish on the way to Platrand it was reported that `In spite of heavy fire and dense smoke created by bushfires set by the Boers, the Yorks and Lancs continued to advance at a wonderfully steady pace, maintaining an unbroken line.`
At the town of Utrecht a mass attack was expected on Christmas day after Major Chapman received a demand from the Boer Captain for a supply of Whisky, Coffee and Sugar in exchange for a `quiet Christmas`. The demand was ignored. The attack on the town eventually came on the 26th and included the use of a Martini Maxim gun. A simultaneous attack was made on the occupied East Hill. Both attacks were repelled by the Yorks and Lancs and the Boer Captain who made the demand was found amongst the dead.
Although this information is brief and not specific to G.W.A., it is indicative of the conditions and experiences he would have encountered whilst in South Africa.
At the end of the South Africa campaign G.W.A. along with the other volunteers returned to England whilst the Regulars with the Yorks and Lancs went on to India where they were to remain until the outbreak of the Great war (WW1).
G.W.A.`s daughter, Gladys, recalled her father having two medals though only one is accounted for. This was perfectly possible and due to the change in the monarchy wrought by the death of Queen Victoria. The Medal in possession is a `Queen`s` medal. However, any soldier serving on after her death in 1901 would also have received a `King`s` Medal.
Shortly after his return he married, at the age of 35, on the 2nd of July 1901. His wife was a Sarah Levitt (nee Seymour), a widow some four years his senior. However, there were no children and Sarah died on the 28th of December 1905. No children form this marriage are known of.
Sometime after this occurrnce G.W.A. began a liaison with Mary Ellen Hall (nee Seymour) , more details of which are included under her name. They resided in Austerberry Yard, Brotherton and between 1908 and 1921 had 8 children though Ada died as a child. During this period and afterwards G.W.A. was employed as a colliery hewer at Fryston pit. In order to augment his wages in support of a large family he became an accomplished poacher. Game such as pheasant, partridge, venison, hare and rabbit along with eels were a staple part of the family diet, often courtesy of the Grimston Estate, Tadcaster.
G.W.A. was known in Brotherton by the nickname of `Slot` Austwick. This seems to be derived from his aversion to a particular style of `slotted` trousers. Although he was not a man of substance it seems that he was still well disposed to helping others when the need arose. He was skilled in boot and shoe mending and would often do this for free when payment could not be afforded. His youngest daughter Gladys remembers him as being a kind and loving man but not one to be `crossed`. She recalled that on one occasion when she was upset he sat in the rocking chair by the fireside, sat her on his knee and, pulling out his pocket watch said `come on old lass, let`s teach you how to tell the time.`
In 1923, G.W.A. and Mary Ellen were married. At the time, both were described as widowed.
After working at Frystone and Pontefract Collieries G.W.A. retired at the age of 60.
G.W.A. died of a cerebral thrombosis on the 11th of March 1944 in Headlands hospital at the age 0f 75 and is buried in Brotherton cemetary.
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