Hit a wall...need help please

[Assun23]

Hi,

I desperately need some advice/help as I've hit a brick wall with my research and don't know where to go next.

I am trying to help an elderly lady locate her brother whom she lost contact with over 40 years ago.  She believed he emigrated to Brisbane.  His name was Kingsley Austen, born Kent England 24/09/1934.  He served in the Navy as a Radio Electrician on the RSS John Biscoe and HRS Shackleton when he was about 25 years old involved in the Antarctic Survey.  He went to Beckenham-Penge Grammar School in Kent.

I have found a death that may fit:

KARRAKATTA CEMETERY Western Australia
First Name KINGSLEY
Last Name AUSTEN
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.

As I have no info once he reached Australia I do not know what to do next.  Does anyone have any good advice?  I really want to be able to tell this elderly lady his fate but need to know for sure first.

Thank you

[stonechat]

Death cert may yield more information that we would expect in UK (e.g. parents names, names of children)
In NSW you can hire a transcription agent to give you the info for cheaper than the cert

Not sure what the position is in Western Australia

[deeiluka]

As his death was so recent, you need to be aware of the rules that apply for obtaining a copy of the certificate.

http://www.bdm.dotag.wa.gov.au/D/death_certificate_access_policy.aspx?uid=8783-7027-4626-4788


Hope that's of some help.


Dee   

[Assun23]

Thank you for your replies.  Thats what I thought about the death certificate...we won't be able to get access to it.  So I just don't know quite what to do next?  How about marriage info after 1960, would that be possible?

[deeiluka]

Marriage indexes are only available to 1936.   


Dee   

[cando]

Thanks to many volunteers, marriages are available to 1965 in WA but nothing for Kingsley AUSTEN.
http://www.wamarriage.info/default.aspx

As you have the date of death you could use the Ask a Librarian service at the State Library of WA to lookup the death and funeral notices.  I live in a rather isolated area of Aus and have received excellent service from libraries and I am sure the same would apply to an overseas enquiry.
http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/find/services/information_services

Cheers
Cando

[jen56johns]

I can't find anything for him in the immigration records in the National Archives, but I guess it might depend on when he immigrated.

If you have a credit card and are willing to spend $8 you can search The West Australian newspaper.  As you know the date of death, it's quite easy to find the death notices and $8 gives you access for 24 hours.

https://archive.thewest.com.au/index.php

Let us know how you get on!

Best wishes,

Jenni.

[Assun23]

Thank you for the suggestion.  I've been looking through the two weeks after his death but haven't found anything so far...

I can't find anything for him in the immigration records in the National Archives, but I guess it might depend on when he immigrated.

If you have a credit card and are willing to spend $8 you can search The West Australian newspaper.  As you know the date of death, it's quite easy to find the death notices and $8 gives you access for 24 hours.

https://archive.thewest.com.au/index.php

Let us know how you get on!

Best wishes,

Jenni.

[jen56johns]

Be sure to check the funeral notices in the days following his death. It may be that the man did not have any friends or family to place notices but the funeral directors usually do.