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{{Infobox
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{{infobox soldier
| name           = Melbourne Hubert Randolph Matthews
+
| image           = [[File:Matthews_MHR_1.jpg|border|400px]]
 
+
| caption         =
| title          =
+
| image2         = [[File:Matthews_MHR.jpg|border|400px]]
| above          =
+
| caption2       = Aust Fighting Sons of the Empire - Page 216
| subheader      =
+
| dateofbirth   = unknown
 
+
| placeofbirth   = Parkside, Adelaide, South Australia
 
+
| death           = 1955 Sep Qtr
|  image        = [[File:Matthews_MHR_1.jpg|border|400px]]
+
| placeofdeath   = Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England
| caption       =  
+
| enlistmentage   = 20 years, 8 months
|   image2       = [[File:Matthews_MHR.jpg|border|400px]]
+
| description   = 5' 7" (1.70m) tall; weight 109 lbs (49.4 kg) ; dark complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair.
| caption2       = Aust Fighting Sons of the Empire - Page 216
+
| height          = 5' 7" (1.70m)
 
+
| weight          = 109 lbs
|headerstyle  = background:#ccf;
+
| complexion      = dark
|labelstyle  = background:#ddf;
+
| eyes            = grey
|datastyle    =
+
| hair            = dark brown
 
+
| descriptionnote =
| header1  = Personal Information
+
| occupation   = Clerk
 
+
| religion   = Church of Christ
|  label2  = Date of Birth
+
| address   = Kelmscott, Western Australia
data2  = unknown
+
| relation   = Father 
 
+
| nextofkin      = Mr Sidney Matthews
|  label3  = Place of Birth
+
| regnumber   = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8213943 3903]
data3  = Parkside, Adelaide, South Australia
+
| enlistmentdate = 20 Aug 1915
 
+
| rank           = Private
| label4  = Death
+
| unit      = 11th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement, A Company / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division
|  data4  = 1955 Sep Qtr
+
| embarkationdatefrom = 22 Nov 1915
 
+
| embarkationdateto = 14 Dec 1915
|  label5  = Place of Death
+
| shipembarked   = [[RMS Mongolia]]
data5  = Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England
+
| embarkedshipnote =
 
+
| embarkationdatefrom2 =
|  label6  = Age at Enlistment
+
| embarkationdateto2 =  
data6  = 20 years, 8 months
+
| shipembarked2   =
 
+
| embarkedshipnote2 =
|  label7  = Description
+
| dateofreturnfrom = 9 Feb 1919  
data7  = 5' 7" (1.70m) tall; weight 109 lbs (49.4 kg) ; dark complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair.
+
| dateofreturnto = 24 Mar 1919
 
+
| shipreturned    = [[HMAT A11 Ascanius]]
| label8  = Occupation
+
| shipreturnednote =
|   data8  = clerk
+
| dateofreturnfrom2 =
 
+
| dateofreturnto2 =  
| label9  = Religion
+
| shipreturned2    =
data9  = Church of Christ
+
| shipreturnednote2 =
 
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| fate1           = Missing in Action, later Prisoner of War 16 Apr 1917 Louverval
|  label10  = Address
+
| fate2          = Repatriated to UK 15 Dec 1918
data10  = Kelmscott, Western Australia
+
| fate3          = Returned to Australia
 
+
| fate4          =
| label11 = Next of Kin
+
| monument1   = [[Kelmscott War Memorial]]  
|   data11 = Father  Mr Sidney Matthews
+
| monumentnote1  = (North panel)
 
+
| monument2   = [[Kelmscott Congregational Church Honour Board]]
| header12 = Military Information
+
| monumentnote2  =
 
+
| monument3   =
|  label13 = Reg Number
+
| monumentnote3  =
data13 = [https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8213943 3903]
+
| monument4   =
 
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| monumentnote4  =
label14 = Date of Enlistment
+
| monument5   =
|  data14 = 20 AUg 1915
+
| monumentnote5  =
 
+
| monument6   =
| label15 = Rank
+
| monumentnote6  =
|  data15 = Private
+
| monumentawm    =
 
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| monumentawmnote =
|  label16 = Unit/Formation
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| monumentother  = [https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/ The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria]
|   data16 = 11th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement, A Company / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division
+
| monumentothernote =
 
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| medal1   = [[1914-15 Star]]
| label17 = Date of Embarkation
+
| medal2          = [[British War Medal]]
|   data17 = 22 Nov 1915 - 14 Dec 1915
+
| medal3          = [[Victory Medal]]
 
+
| medal4          =
|  label18 = Ship Embarked On
 
data18 = [[RMS Mongolia]]
 
 
 
| label19 = Date of Return
 
data19 = 9 Feb 1919 - 24 Mar 1919
 
 
 
label20 = Ship Returned On
 
|   data20 = [[HMAT A11 Ascanius]]
 
 
 
label21 = Fate
 
|   data21 = Missing in Action, later Prisoner of War 16 Apr 1917 Louverval<br />Repatriated to UK 15 Dec 1918<br />Returned to Australia
 
 
 
| label22 = Monument
 
data22 = [[Kelmscott]]<br />[[Kelmscott Congregational Church Roll of Honour]]
 
 
 
| label23 = Medals
 
data23 = [[1914-15 Star]]<br />[[British War Medal]]<br />[[Victory Medal]]
 
 
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 91: Line 73:
  
 
==War Service==
 
==War Service==
During his initial training at Blackboy Hill camp he received specialist training as a signaller.  On arrival in Egypt he spent time with the Training Battalion, before being taken on strength by the 11th Battalion at Habieta on the Suez Canal on 2 Mar 1916.  He was posted to A Company.
+
During his initial training at Blackboy Hill camp he received specialist training as a signaler.  On arrival in Egypt he spent time with the Training Battalion, before being taken on strength by the [[11th Battalion]] at Habieta, a base 12 miles (20 kilometers) east of the Suez Canal on 2 Mar 1916.  He was posted to 'A' Company. Along with the rest of the battalion he boarded a train for Alexandria where on 30 Mar 1916 they boarded the [[HMT Corsican]] for Marseilles. The 11th Battalion arrived in France on 5 Apr 1916 and they were transported by train to Fletre (about 10 km east of Hazebrouck).   
 
 
Along with the rest of the battalion he boarded a train for Alexandria where on 30 Mar 1916 they boarded the [[HMT Corsican]] for Marseilles.
 
 
 
Arrived in France on 5 Apr 1916 and they were transported by train to Fletre (about 10 km east of Hazebrouck).  The Battalion War Diary gives no indication of actions on the 16th that would have resulted in his capture by the Germans, but his individual record states that he was captured at Fleuricourt.
 
 
 
There was an action 24 hours earlier where a piquet of A Company was surrounded by the enemy, and when out of ammunition they had charged a large group of the enemy with their bayonets.  It is likely that Matthews (a member of A Coy) was captured at that point.
 
  
Interned at Limburg, Germany.
 
 
Repatriated to Rippon on 15 Dec 1918 despite an entry in his Red Cross files by a member of the 10th Battalion that speaks of him being buried on 18 April 1917.
 
  
Discharged 5th Military District 17 May 1919.
+
The Battalion War Diary gives no indication of actions on the 16 Apr 1917 that would have resulted in his capture by the Germans, but his individual record states that he was captured at Fleuricourt. There was an action 24 hours earlier where a piquet of 'A' Company was surrounded by the enemy, and when out of ammunition they had charged a large group of the enemy with their bayonets.  It is likely that Matthews (a member of 'A' Coy) was captured at that point.
  
It would appear that his mother Emma Beatrice Matthews was placed on a pension of 25/- per fortnight at some point after he was missing.  It was cancelled from 6 Jul 1917 when it became known he was captured.
 
 
''Casualty List 299'' includes M.H.R. Mathews of Kelmscott as Missing.<ref>The West Australian 19 May 1917 p.7</ref> 
 
  
In the same paper is the following entry "Mr. And Mrs. S. Matthews, Kelmscott, have been notified that their son, Private Hubert Matthews, has been reported missing since April 16.<ref>The West Australian 19 May 1917 p.7</ref> 
 
  
.   
+
Initially interned at Kriegsgefangenenlager, Limburg, Germany, and transferred to Friedrichsfeld in Oct 1917. A letter dated 27 Jan 1918 has Melbourne interned at AltdammThere is an erroneous entry in his Red Cross File relating to his burial on 18 Apr 1917. <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1051813 |title=Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - Melbourne Hubert Randolph Matthews |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= 2018|website=Australian War Memorial |access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref>. Repatriated to Ripon in the UK on 15 Dec 1918 despite an entry in his Red Cross files by a member of the 10th Battalion that speaks of him being buried on 18 April 1917. On arrival back in Australia, Melbourne was discharged by the 5th Military District on 17 May 1919.
  
  
 +
''Casualty List 299'' includes M.H.R. Mathews of Kelmscott as Missing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27299289 |title=WAR CASUALTIES. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=XXXIII, |issue=4,720 |location=Western Australia |date=19 May 1917 |accessdate=25 July 2017 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> 
  
==Award Comment==
+
In the same paper is the following entry "Mr. And Mrs. S. Matthews, Kelmscott, have been notified that their son, Private Hubert Matthews, has been reported missing since April 16.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27299289 |title=WAR CASUALTIES. |newspaper=[[The West Australian]] |volume=XXXIII, |issue=4,720 |location=Western Australia |date=19 May 1917 |accessdate=25 July 2017 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>
  
 
==Post War==
 
==Post War==
Line 122: Line 92:
 
   
 
   
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 +
It would appear that his mother Emma Beatrice Matthews was placed on a pension of 25/- per fortnight at some point after he was declared to be missing.  It was cancelled from 6 Jul 1917 when it became known he was captured.
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
 +
*[https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=191364 AIF Project]
 +
*[https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/372378 RSL Virtual War Memorial]
 +
*[[Ballarat POW Memorial]]
  
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews , Melbourne Hubert Randolph}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Matthews , Melbourne Hubert Randolph}}
  
 
[[Category:Soldier]]
 
[[Category:Soldier]]
 +
[[Category:POW]]
 +
[[Category:1917 POW]]
 +
[[Category:POW - Fleuricourt]]
 +
[[Category:Returned to Australia]]
 +
[[Category:Born Australia]]
 +
[[Category:Born SA]]
 +
[[Category:Church of Christ]]
 +
[[Category:Clerk]]
 +
[[Category:Armadale-Kelmscott]]

Latest revision as of 15:44, 9 July 2022

Melbourne Hubert Randolph Matthews
Matthews MHR 1.jpg
Matthews MHR.jpg
Aust Fighting Sons of the Empire - Page 216
Personal Information
Date of Birth unknown
"unknown" contains an extrinsic dash or other characters that are invalid for a date interpretation.
Place of Birth Parkside, Adelaide, South Australia
Death 1955 Sep Qtr
Place of Death Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England
Age at Enlistment 20 years, 8 months
Description 5' 7" (1.70m) tall ; 109 lbs
49.442 kg
; dark complexion ; grey eyes ; dark brown hair
Occupation Clerk
Religion Church of Christ
Address Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin Father , Mr Sidney Matthews
Military Information
Reg Number 3903
Date of Enlistment 20 Aug 1915
Rank Private
Unit/Formation 11th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement, A Company / 3rd Brigade, 1st Division
Date of Embarkation 22 Nov 1915 ‒ 14 Dec 1915
Ship Embarked On RMS Mongolia
Date of Return 9 Feb 1919 ‒ 24 Mar 1919
Ship Returned On HMAT A11 Ascanius
Fate Missing in Action, later Prisoner of War 16 Apr 1917 Louverval
Repatriated to UK 15 Dec 1918
Returned to Australia
Monument Kelmscott War Memorial (North panel)
Kelmscott Congregational Church Honour Board
The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Medals 1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal



Pre War

Mother was Emma Beatrice 6 Jul 1917

War Service

During his initial training at Blackboy Hill camp he received specialist training as a signaler. On arrival in Egypt he spent time with the Training Battalion, before being taken on strength by the 11th Battalion at Habieta, a base 12 miles (20 kilometers) east of the Suez Canal on 2 Mar 1916. He was posted to 'A' Company. Along with the rest of the battalion he boarded a train for Alexandria where on 30 Mar 1916 they boarded the HMT Corsican for Marseilles. The 11th Battalion arrived in France on 5 Apr 1916 and they were transported by train to Fletre (about 10 km east of Hazebrouck).


The Battalion War Diary gives no indication of actions on the 16 Apr 1917 that would have resulted in his capture by the Germans, but his individual record states that he was captured at Fleuricourt. There was an action 24 hours earlier where a piquet of 'A' Company was surrounded by the enemy, and when out of ammunition they had charged a large group of the enemy with their bayonets. It is likely that Matthews (a member of 'A' Coy) was captured at that point.


Initially interned at Kriegsgefangenenlager, Limburg, Germany, and transferred to Friedrichsfeld in Oct 1917. A letter dated 27 Jan 1918 has Melbourne interned at Altdamm. There is an erroneous entry in his Red Cross File relating to his burial on 18 Apr 1917. [1]. Repatriated to Ripon in the UK on 15 Dec 1918 despite an entry in his Red Cross files by a member of the 10th Battalion that speaks of him being buried on 18 April 1917. On arrival back in Australia, Melbourne was discharged by the 5th Military District on 17 May 1919.


Casualty List 299 includes M.H.R. Mathews of Kelmscott as Missing.[2]

In the same paper is the following entry "Mr. And Mrs. S. Matthews, Kelmscott, have been notified that their son, Private Hubert Matthews, has been reported missing since April 16.[3]

Post War

During 1923 in Melbourne he married Irene Pearl McLean. Electoral Roll entries - 1923 with Pearl at Francis street, Mt Lawley with MHR working as a secretary; In 1931 - 37 they have moved to 49 Woodville street, Balkatta, and by 1936 to Stanley street, Nedlands (clerk).

Notes

It would appear that his mother Emma Beatrice Matthews was placed on a pension of 25/- per fortnight at some point after he was declared to be missing. It was cancelled from 6 Jul 1917 when it became known he was captured.

  1. "Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Files - Melbourne Hubert Randolph Matthews". Australian War Memorial. 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018. 
  2. "WAR CASUALTIES.". The West Australian. XXXIII, (4,720). Western Australia. 19 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 25 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 
  3. "WAR CASUALTIES.". The West Australian. XXXIII, (4,720). Western Australia. 19 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 25 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia. 

External Links