Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

27/02/1917

Date of Discharge

18/10/1919

Place of Enlistment

Wangaratta, Victoria

Gender

Male

Other Name(s)

Known as 'Jack'

Date of Birth

14/04/1884

Place of Birth

Parramatta NSW

Address (at enlistment)

Gudgenby ACT

Occupation

Labourer

Next of Kin

Myrrha Lee (sister), Gudgenby Station ACT

Service Number

6888

Final Rank

Private

Final Unit

22 Battalion AIF

Queanbeyan RSL Wall of Remembrance, Crawford St, Queanbeyan NSW

Jack Rustin lived in the Queanbeyan district giving his address as "Gudgenby Station via Queanbeyan" where he worked, although he is described in Higgins' work as the manager. He was the brother-in-law of James Clarkson. Rustin's name also appears on the 1913 census as living at Cotter Falls in the Federal Territory though his hut was on Middle Creek just to the west of 'Gudgenby'. He embarked in Melbourne in May 1917 as a Private with the 19th reinforcements to the 22nd Battalion (the AWM image shows him with other men from 3rd Platoon, 22nd Battalion on board the HMAT Ascanius), going AWL during a stopover in Durban and being hospitalised with mumps. He was charged another four times for going AWL before joining the 22nd Battalion in France in January 1918. He went AWL twice more before returning to Australia in September 1919 when he failed to re-embark on his ship when it berthed at Fremantle. He was discharged on 18 October 1919 in Melbourne. Rustin returned to 'Gudgenby' after the war and managed the station during the owner's absence. After the property was sold he worked on the roads around the Tharwa district.

Description - height 5 feet 8 inches, weight 150 pounds, chest 33½-36 inches, fair complexion, green eyes, fair hair, Catholic.

Biographical Register of Canberra and Queanbeyan: from the district to the Australian Capital Territory 1820-1930. Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra Inc., 2001
Matthew Higgins, 'Voices from the Hills. Places, People and Past Lifestyles in Namadgi National Park', KHA 1990
Matthew Higgins, 'Rugged Beyond Imagination', 2009
National Archives (A206) Volume 9 [Federal Capital (Yass-Canberra district). Copies of correspondence, reports etc subsequent to passing of 'Seat of Government Surrender Act 1909 (NSW)' and 'Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 (Commonwealth)'] - folio 95, 1913 FCT Census
AWM Collections Record : PB0156
NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)