Austin was born in Bellary, India. He married Georgina Adelaide Seymour on 21 August 1894 in Clifton. Austin obtained his conjoint qualification in 1891 and spent 30 years in India in the military service. He studied posture and respiratory mechanics. Austin was a Major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. In 1911, he was a Specialist in Laryngology for the 3rd (Lahore) Division. In 1912, he was Civil Surgeon at Kasauli for the Indian Medical Service.
