Ambrose Rustin was a 36-year-old station hand from Lila Spring, Bourke, New South Wales and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rustin of Granville, New South Wales. He was the brother of Myrrha, Olive, Bertha, Jack, and Private Joseph Rustin, who was also on active service. Married to Esther May Sladden, he was the father of Thelma Cecelia Rustin, and the grandson of William Rustin who had settled in Argyle Street, Parramatta in 1803.
Prior to enlisting, he had been a well-known player in the Granville Association Football team. His brother Joseph also stood out for the club. He enlisted on 10 March 1916 and was assigned to 18th Infantry Battalion, 14 to 17 Reinforcements. On 1 September that year he qualified as a Corporal. He embarked from Sydney with his unit aboard the HMAT Ceramic on 7 October 1916 and proceeded to France from Folkestone aboard the SS Princess Clementine just after Christmas 1916.
He was made Acting Sergeant on New Year’s Day and joined his battalion in France on 5 February. Soon promoted to Lance Corporal, Rustin was sent to hospital with septic mouth in May 1917 and was only fit to rejoin his unit three months later.
On 20 September 1917 he was killed in action in Belgium at the age of 38 years. He received shell wounds in the back and died instantly during the advance from Westhock Ridge to Anzac Ridge. He was buried in the vicinity of ANZAC House, East of Ypres. He was memorialised at Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. His name is displayed in the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.
Adapted from the Parramatta History and Heritage web site.