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I am trying to help an elderly lady trace her brother Kingsley Austen who was born in Bromley, Kent September 24th 1934, went to Beckenham-Penge Grammar School and later joined the Navy as an Ionosphericist, serving in 1960-1962 on the RRS John Biscoe and HRS Shackleton in Antartica. He was last heard of approx 40 years ago when he went to live in Brisbane, Australia. She is desperate to know what happened to him.

I have found a death that may fit:

KARRAKATTA CEMETERY Western Australia
First Name KINGSLEY
Last Name AUSTEN
Application number: KC00159704
Aged (Years) 70 Date of Death 16/11/2004
Suburb NEDLANDS

However, because it is a cremation and it also indicates that "Ashes Request: TAKEN BY ADMINISTRATOR AT KARRAKATTA CEMETERY"., someone told me there would be no memorial to look at. I was hoping to verify it was him by birthdate or perhaps surviving relatives.

I paid to check for funeral notices in The Western Australia newspaper but there was nothing in the month after his death.

From the Cemetery site there is a death for a Janice Christine AUSTEN died 30 April 2003 aged 60 late of Nedlands and in the white pages prior to 2003 there is a K & JC Austen so I'm wondering if this was Kingsley's wife. However, it doesn't really help me as without her maiden name I can't really research her potential family and I think they must have married after the WA records allow you access to. She was also cremated and again I think no memorial stone. It is such a dilemma! This man is a complete mystery!!

Can anyone please give me any furher ideas to pursue? Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks :-)

Who did you pay? Have you tried contacting the Battye Library?

http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/find/wa_information/battye_library

http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/find/services/information_services/askaspecialist

There should have at least been a Funeral Notice, which would tell you the name of the Funeral Director.

In the old phone books, did you note the suburb they lived in? If so, then search the current phone book to see if there are any Austen's in the same or surrounding area.

Good luck!

Hi,

It was the Western Australian newspapers digital archives which go back to 2004, cost about £6 for 24 hours access. Unfortunately no luck there though.

Thank you for the advice about Battye library, I've emailed them a request and hopefully they will come back to me.

The area they lived in was Nedlands and there doesn't seem to be any Austens in the current whitepages.

He seems to be very elusive this man!!

Thanks again!

Although the record might be closed to you, the situation might be different for a sibling or even a sister-in-law. It might be worth checking into.

Karrakatta and Nedlands are two adjacent suburbs of Perth, abt 6km SW of the city centre. The cemetery there is probably the biggest in WA. Nedlands is the site of UWA.

Clutching straws........

If you put his name into a Google search, there is a find of a cricket player in Australia who has those names, with an extra forename first.
If your other searches are not fruitful, maybe the player could be contacted in the hope that he is related?

Gwyn

Hi Gwyn
Thanks for that. I clutched at that same straw! Unfortunately no relation, the Kingsley in his name came from his mother's side.

Mgnv, I might see if being his sister means that she can access the death certificate....but what that might tell us I'm not sure....and thats if it is infact her brother! Very frustrating!

According to the western australia access policy, despite possibly being his sister it is: Restricted, unless the applicant can provide:
Written authority from a person entitled to the certificate as identified in this policy document; or
Evidence that the certificate is required for some legal right or entitlement; or
Evidence that there is no other living relative.

Unfortunately we don't know for sure if she is his only living relative..thats what we are trying to find out!! :-S

I don't know if this has been suggested or if you have thought about it, maybe you could put a notice in the local paper, to where you think he may live, asking for any information.

Just putting his name, year and place of birth, someone may see it and know something.

Hello Margaret,
Maybe a letter to the administrator of the Karrakatta Cemetery would help. He may be able to give you some details.
Patricia.

Hello Margaret,
Just another thought. maybe someone could look up the Electoral Rolls for Kingsley and Janice. Maybe if you get a street address you could send a letter maybe to a neighbour of theirs. They may know something.
Patricia.

The West Australian newpaper has a 'Can You Help?' column they publish weekly. Might be worth a try.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/contact/