Austin Nagle Podger

PODGER, Austin Nagle- – – – SPC 1908

DoB:- – 1893, Terang, VIC

Father:- – Lachlan Andre Podger

Mother:- – Mary Agnes, nee Prendergast

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Service No:- 11873

Rank:- – Driver, later Corporal, later Sergeant

Unit:- – 3rd Australian Divisional Supply Column, later known as Aust Mechanical Transport Coy

Austin Podger enlisted on 14 July 1915, a single man aged 22 years and six months. He was five feet, nine and a quarter inches tall, with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and red hair. He was a grazier near Terang.

Podger was appointed Corporal prior to embarking from Australia on 5 June 1916, aboard the Afric. He disembarked at Southampton on 24 July. After a few months training in the UK, he proceeded overseas to France in November 1916.

While in France, Podger was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in January 1917. It appears that he suffered frequent bouts of scabies while on active duty, and was often treated in various Casualty Clearing Stations for this ailment. By the middle of 1918, he was struck down with influenza, and was invalided out to England. On 2 January 1919, Sergeant Podger was returned to Australia aboard the Karmala, suffering from the effects of influenza. He disembarked at Melbourne on 15 February 1919.

After his discharge from the AIF, Austin Podger returned to his native Terang and resumed farming. He remained there for nearly his entire life, until the electoral roll of 1968 shows that he was living at 1529 Sturt Street, Ballarat. Austin was at that address with Desmond Prendergast Podger (dentist), Louise Anne Podger (teacher) and Nora Josephine Podger (home duties). One would assume that these were family members, but the College could not locate any records which would show how they were related.

Austin Nagle Podger died in Ballarat on 24 April 1971, aged 78 years. He was buried at the Terang Cemetery, Victoria.