Charles Austen's Family
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CHARLES JOHN AUSTEN [1] continued
... where he hoisted his flag in the 'Hastings' of 72 guns.
In April 1852, with his flag on board the 'Rattler' steam sloop, he commanded the Naval forces at the capture of Martaban and Rangoon, during the Burmese war.
After the fall of the latter place he was compelled, by a severe attack of cholera, to leave the Irrawaddy.
In the following summer, contrary to the advice of his medical attendant, and to the urgent wish of the Governor-General that he would not expose his life to the baneful influence of the climate, he returned in the 'Hastings' to Rangoon.
After effecting a reconnaissance of Prome, with his flag in the East India Company's steam sloop 'Pluto', and while awaiting the arrival of the land forces, he was again attacked by cholera – which carried him off on October 7th 1852 in the 74th year of his age, beloved and respected by all under his command.
The following is an extract from an order of the Governor-General in Council bearing on the melancholy event – 'The Governor-General in Council feels it to be due to the memory of an old and gallant sailor, that he should add a public expression of the deep regret with which he has received intimation of the death of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief of her Majesty's ships in the Indian seas. Although Admiral Austen did not survive to witness the successful conclusion of the operations in which he had shared, the Governor-General in Council desires to record his admiration of the staunch, high spirit which, notwithstanding ...
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