Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, North West Frontier (Capt. G. L. Austin. 3 Bn. Rif. Bde.) nearly extremely fine £400-450

Geoffrey Lewes Austin was born at Canterbury in 1837 and commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade on 6 April 1855, becoming Lieutenant four months later. He served with the 3rd Battalion throughout the Indian Mutiny, latterly with Major Ross’s Camel Corps in Central India (Medal with clasps for Lucknow and Central India). He served on the North West Frontier of India in 1863-64, taking part in the action at Shubkudder Fort on 1-2 January 1864 (Medal with clasp). He was promoted to Captain in March 1863, and retired from the service 10 years later, in March 1873. He died at his residence in Canterbury on 29 May 1902, in his sixty-fifth year. His obituary recorded that he was ‘An ardent sportsman, a capital shot, an expert angler, and an enthusiastic and successful golfer. He had for some years been a member of the committee of the Kent County Cricket Club, and was well known as the manager of the Canterbury Cricket week. He played for Kent before he was 20 years of age.’