MATTHEWS, Arthur Frederick
| Service Number: | 722 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, 11 August 1884 |
| Home Town: | Newcastle, Hunter Region, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Whitehall Boarding and St George Higher Grade Schools, England |
| Occupation: | Carpenter / Wood Working Machinist |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 19 July 1916, aged 31 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Remembered on Panel No 2 at the VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 722, Depot Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 722, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 722, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 722, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
Help us honour Arthur Frederick Matthews's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Frederick Arthur Matthews was born in Bristol England in 1886 and came out to Sydney, Australia during 1911. He late moved to Newcastle and worked there for the NSW Government Railways as a signal fitter.
Arthur was reported missing, 20 July 1916.
At a Court of Enquiry, held during May 1917 he was confirmed as killed in action, 20 July 1916 on the evidence of 668 Private Goodsir. Several men of the 30th Battalion, including Goodsir, stated that Matthews had been hit by shrapnel in the head and killed instantly during the Battle of Fromelles.
His younger brother had emigrated to Canada and enlisted there. 412784 Private Frederick John Matthews, 13th Battalion Quebec Regiment, Canadian Infantry, was killed in action near Mouquet Farm on 4 September 1916, aged 25.
Their parents were James and Amelia Matthews, who remained in Bristol, England.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Arthur Frederick MATTHEWS (Service Number 722) was born on 11th August 1884 at Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. He commenced working with the NSW Government Railways in the Signalling Branch as a carpenter on 2nd January 1912. By the next year he was working at Cockle Creek in the same role and on 1st July 1914 as the ganger of the work group. He enlisted at Liverpool on 20th July 1915, giving his father, who was still living in Bristol, as his next of kin.
He was allotted to the 30th Battalion. He embarked on HMAT ‘Beltana’ at Sydney on 9th November 1915 and reached Suez on 11th December. After further training in Egypt he embarked HMAT ‘Honorata’ at Alexandria on 6th June 1916, reaching Marseilles a fortnight later.
He became missing on 20th July 1916 at the Battle of Fromelles. Private Goodsir (668) who was present when Matthews died gave evidence to a Court of Enquiry held ten months later and this led to a ruling that he had indeed been killed that night.
Goodsir’s testimony was:
‘On the evening of July 19th 1916 at about 7.30 p.m. I was lying wounded in No Man’s Land about 10 yards from the German trenches, in company with Private A. Matthews. He was wounded also, either in the arm or body. 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.’
Matthews’s body was not recovered, and he has no known grave. He is remembered on a panel at the VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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