Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Leading Aircraftman Thomas Lindsay Matthews (Service No:163499) initially enlisted in the RAAF at No 2 Recruiting Centre Sydney on 12 May 1944 as an Aircraftman I - mustered as Trainee Technican, then re mustered as Electrician. Promoted to Leading Aircraftman, he was attached to 87 Squadron Parkes, and Discharged on 7 August 1946. LAC Matthews re-enlisted in the RAAF at Bradfield Park on 5 February 1947, and served with 386 Base Squadron prior to Discharge at Eastern Area HQ Bradfield Park on 30 April 1948. In August 1951, LAC Matthews was in the process of re enlisting in the RAAF when he died.

Ron was born in Narromine, NSW in 1926, only son of Lindsay Sydney Matthews (b1906 at Peak Hill, NSW) and his first wife Ruby Evelyn Radford (b1908 in Yanac, Victoria). Lindsay and Ruby married in Dubbo NSW in 1926, and divorced in 1936 - both remarried. Lindsay died whilst a Pow of the Japanese in Ambon, Indonesia in 1944 (Bombardier; Service No:NX56562).

Ron worked at Millthorpe via Orange NSW as a Casual Labourer (Smith Bros Millthorpe) before enlisting in the RAAF. In 1946 in Orange NSW he married Joan Mildred May Stanley (b1927 in Sydney, NSW) - Ron was working in Sydney as a Telephonist with the Postmaster General's Department. Ron and Joan settled in Parkes, where they raised their family and, in between enlistment in the RAAF, Ron worked as an Electrical Mechanic for Sorlies Theatrical Enterprises. Ron died in 1951, and Joan later remarried.