AUSTIN, SAMUEL (1829-1903) was born in Ireland and arrived in New Zealand with the 65th regiment in 1846. After serving through the war he took his discharge as a sergeant in 1859. He was a sergeant serving with the Wanganui native contingent in the West Coast campaign and was present at Weraroa pa and Opotiki (1865). At the capture of the Putahi pa (on 7 Jan 1866) he ran to the rescue of Lieut-colonel McDonnell, who was severely wounded, supported him during most of the action and carried him off the field under heavy fire. His conduct was witnessed by General Chute, and he was thanked publicly and recommended for the New Zealand Cross, which was duly awarded. Again at Keteonetea (17 Oct), when Captain William McDonnell was severely wounded and his men had fallen back on the main body, Austin came to the rescue and carried off McDonnell, who was on the point of being tomahawked. Austin was present also at Otapawa and Pungarehu (1866), Otautu and Porere (1869). He took his discharge (as quartermaster-sergeant) in 1870 and died at Wanganui (on 25 Jan 1903).

N.Z. Army records; Gudgeon; Auckland Weekly News, 27 Oct 1899 (p).

Reference: Volume 1, page 29

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