Regimental number | 722 |
Place of birth | Bristol, England |
School | Whitehall Board School, and St George Higher Grade School, England |
Age on arrival in Australia | 27 |
Religion | Church of England |
Occupation | Carpenter |
Address | 36 Sydney Street, Newcastle, New South Wales |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 31 |
Height | 5' 4" |
Weight | 140 lbs |
Next of kin | Father, James Matthews, Granville House, 86 Blacksworth Road, Bristol, England |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Unit name | 30th Battalion, C Company |
AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/47/1 |
Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A72 Beltana on |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 30th Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
Age at death | 32 |
Age at death from cemetery records | 32 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 2), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 117 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: James and Amelia MATTHEWS, 86 Blackswarth Road, Bristol, England. Native of Redfield, Bristol |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Sydney, 9 November 1915; disembarked Suez, 11 December 1915. Embarked Alexandria to the join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Reported missing, 20 July 1916. To be reported killed in action, 20 July 1916 on the evidence of Private Goodsir, 668, 15 May 1917. Statement, Red Cross File No 1740209, 741 Pte R. RAYSMITH, 30th Bn, 28 August 1916: 'I saw them [MATTHEWS and 686 W. INGLIS] lying together wounded, about 10 p.pm. on the 19th. July at Fleurbaix. Matthews was very badly wounded and was either dead or had fainted when I last saw him. He was hit all about the back and down the spine and was lying on his face.' (Note on file: 'One of the most intelligent and reliable witnesses I have met.') Second statement, 696 Pte G. KIRKPATRICK, 30th Bn: 'Informant states at Fleurbaix, [he] saw Matthews lying on edge of a shell crater with head smashed in - dead.' Third statement, 668 Pte J. GOODSIR, 30th Bn (patient, 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford, England), 2 December 1916: 'Witness states that he was lying by the side of the above man about 8 p.m. on July 19th at Bois Grenier, Fleurbaix[,] and saw him hit in the head. The splinter entered the top of his head and came out at the chin, and must have killed him on the spot.' Fourth statement, also by GOODSIR, 3 May 1917: 'We were lying about a yard apart and conversing when a shell burst overhead. A big piece struck the shrapnel helmet of Matthews and knocked it some distance away. The piece of shrapnel from what I could judge, was the size of a billiard ball, which entered the top of his head and came out under his chin, smashing the front part of his face. The blow killed him instantly, for he never moved again while I was alongside him, which time being about five hours.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAA: B2455, MATTHEWS Arthur Frederick
Red Cross file 1740209 |