Difference between revisions of "Melbourne Hubert Randolph Matthews"
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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. | 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.<ref>https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1051813/document/5639484.PDF </ref> | |
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. | 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. | ||
Revision as of 23:50, 23 April 2018
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 Aust Fighting Sons of the Empire - Page 216 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | unknown |
| 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; weight 109 lbs (49.4 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 |
| 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 signaller. 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 kilometres) 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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).
References
- ↑ https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1051813/document/5639484.PDF
- ↑ "WAR CASUALTIES.". The West Australian. XXXIII, (4,720). Western Australia. 19 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 25 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "WAR CASUALTIES.". The West Australian. XXXIII, (4,720). Western Australia. 19 May 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 25 July 2017 – via National Library of Australia.