Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Enlisted into the 16th Battalion, on arrival in Egypt John Matten was caught up in "The Doubling of the AIF", and the 16th was split to create the 48th Battalion in the 12th Brigade in the 4th Division.

He was taken on strength, 48th Bn, Tel-el-Kabir, Egypt, 9 March 1916.

The battalion embarked from Alexandria, Egypt, 2 June 1916 then disembarked Marseilles, France, 9 June 1916 from where they went north by rail to the vicinity of Armentieres. 

He was reported Sick to hospital, 9 July 1916; rejoined unit, 12 July 1916 just in time for the Pozieres  / Mouquet Farm battles.  Having survived the carnage, he was appointed Lance Corporal, 15 February 1917.

He was then attached to the 12th Machine Gun Company for duty (from 48th Bn), 3 March 1917; taken on strength, 12th Machine Gun Company, 6 March 1917.

Promoted Temporary Corporal, 12 November 1917; Corporal, 1 January 1918. Detached to the Australian Corps Gas School, Peronne, France, 2 January 1918; rejoined unit from Gas School, 7 January 1918. Detached to the Australian Machine Gun Corps depot, England, 1 October 1918. Embarked for Australia, 9 March 1919; disembarked in Australia, from the 'Kashmir', 18 April 1919.

Joh Matten's total war service was 3 years 320 days (of which 3 years 146 days were abroad) in most of the key campaigns in which the 4th Division fought..

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal