Austen Wallis (1894-1963)
From Staffordshire, served as Second Lieutenant in 12th Battalion DLI.
Austen Bowen Wallis was born in Staffordshire in 1894. His father,Robert, later moved with his family to Northumberland. In April 1915 Austen was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion DLI and later served with the 12th Battalion DLI on the Western Front.
On 7 October 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, 12 DLI attacked a German trench system near Le Sars known as The Tangle. In the fighting, Second Lieutenant Wallis was hit in both legs by a bullet. After gangrene set in, his right leg had to be amputated.
Austen’s father later received a letter, dated 10 October 1916, from No.45 Casualty Clearing Station describing his son’s wounds:
“Your son, Lt. R. A. Wallis is at present under my care in this Casualty Clearing Station… He was admitted… suffering from bullet wounds in the right leg and left thigh. The main artery in the right leg had been severed and an operation was performed by which we hoped to re-establish the circulation and save the leg. Gangrene, however, started in the foot so that I regret to say the right leg had to be amputated at the knee joint… He is free from pain today, and is very patient and cheerful… although he will not be out of danger for a day or so.” [DCRO D/DLI 7/989/15]
Austen Wallis was later transferred to No.8 General Hospital in Rouen and then to No.2 Western General Hospital in Manchester.
After the war, Austen, a Chartered Accountant by profession, lived with his wife, Dorothy, in Tynemouth and, later, Monkseaton. He died in Warkworth, Northumberland, in 1963, aged 69 years.
Armed force/civilian: Army
Medal(s): Because of his injuries, Second Lieutenant Austen Wallis was discharged from the Army. He was then awarded the Silver War Badge. In 1924 Austen Wallis claimed the two campaign medals to which he was entitled – the British War Medal and Victory Medal. These two medals were presented by his daughter to the DLI Museum in 2003. Today they are part of the DLI Collection held in the University of Durham’s Palace Green Library.
Gender: Male
Contributed by Durham County Record Office
