DEATH OF LIEUT.-COLONEL AUSTEN.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 153, 18 December 1863, Page 2 (Supplement)

DEATH OF LIEUT.-COLONEL AUSTEN.

It was with feelings of the most sincere regret rre announced, in our yesterday’s issue, the unexpected decease of this brave and meritorious officer. Colonel Austen expired at the Queen’s Redoubt on Monday afternoon, of a wound received in action at the storming of Ranginri, on the 20th ult. Ho was severely hit in the thigh, the bullet lodging; still no fatal result was apprehended, on the contrary, his recovery was confidently anticipated. It has however, turned out otherwise ; England has lost an able and a gallant officer, and INew Zealand has to lament the premature decease of a dauntless chief who has twice, within brief space, shed his blood in his cause.

Colonel Austen arrived in Auckland in command of the 2nd battalion of the 14th regt-, in succession to Sir James Alexander. His military antecedents were of the highest order. He served in command of the 83rd Regiment, during the suppression of the Indian Mutiny, including the affair of Sanganeor, on the Bth August, 1858 ; defeat of the Gwalior rebels at Kotaria ; and commanded the head quarters of the 83rd regiment at the surprise and attack on the rebels at Seckur, on 21st January, 1859, for which ho received a medal. He was conspicuous for his coolness and gallantry in leading the. 14-th into action with the rebel Maorics at Koheroa, where he was badly wounded. And again in the sanguinary onslaught at Rangiriri, he was foremost among the many brave men who have sacrificed life and limb in that fiery conflict. Colonel Austen, we are given to understand, had recently inherited a goodly fortune ; and it is said was about to exchange into one of the Regiments of Guards. Ho was as popular as lie was brave, and his death is much and sincerely regretted. The body enclosed in a shell, arrived at the Albert Barracks last night at 8 o’clock, the ambulance waggon being under escort of 34 men of the 14th and 18th regiments, in command of Lieutenant Harrington, 14th. The band of the 14th likewise accompanied the corpse, which was placed in the same hut as that which received the remains of the lamented Cant. Phelps. Colonel Austen, strange to say, was wounded at Rangiriri in the same spot in which he had been previously wounded in India. Ho eventually succumbed under lock-jaw. The funeral will move from the barracks this day, at 4 p.m., the mortal remains adding another heap to the valiant group that have lately been clustering around the memorable resting place of Commodore Burnett.—A”. Z. Herald, Dec. 9.