Austin Hellier Madge was born in 1850 in Kettering, Northamptonshire. His father was Thomas Hellier Madge and his mother Mary Madge (Nee Woolley).
One of five children, the family lived in Kettering where his father was Rector. In Jul 1866 at 16 years old Thomas was apprenticed into the Merchant Navy, four years later being promoted to second mate, then first mate in 1876 age 26.
Sadly on the 31st August 1877 at his home at 4, Alfred Road, Claughton, Birkenhead Thomas died at the age of only 27 years.

Photographer W Farey Of Kettering.