S4684
MATHESON, George Douglas
| Service Number: | 1574 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Magill, South Australia, Australia , 24 September 1894 |
| Home Town: | Snowtown, Wakefield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Station Overseer |
| Died: | 14 May 1980, aged 85 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia |
| Memorials: | Clare 9th Light Horse WW1 Memorial, Glenelg and District WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, Snowtown & District Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 1574, 9th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 1574, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 1574 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Charles Campbell College
George Douglas Matheson was born in Magill, South Australia, on 24 September 1894. Before enlistment, George lived at a Snowtown address in South Australia.
George’s family included his parents, John George Matheson (1866-1951) and Lucy Annie Turnbill (1869-1934), who married on 27 November 1893. George was one of eight children of John and Lucy. His siblings included Mary Francis Lucy Matheson (1896-Deceased), Hugh Keith Matheson (1899-deceased), Barbara Ellen Matheson (1902-1988), James Alexander Matheson (1904-1983), John Vincent Colin Matheson (1907-1943), Margaret Jean Matheson (1910-1971), and Rodney Scott Matheson (1911 - 1988).
George worked as a station overseer before enlisting in the Australian Imperial Force on 9 September 1915, at the age of 20 years and 11 months. His embarkation from Australia occurred on 18 November 1915 aboard the HMAT A2 Geelong, although, since George was under 21, he had to provide legal documentation signed by his parents authorising his enlistment. Matheson’s nominated next of kin was his father, John George Matheson. His enlistment documents listed his height as 5 feet 8 1/4 inches, with grey eyes, brown hair, and perfect vision.
George Matheson served in the Middle East and on the Western Front in France. With wartime conditions, the constant dangers of warfare, diseases and injuries affected the soldiers like George mentally and physically. On 14 March 1916, Matheson was admitted to hospital in Heliopolis with mumps and returned to duty on the 23rd March. He was transferred to the 5th Devision Artillery on the 1st April and then was taken on strength with the 9th Light Horse at Somalia the next day.
In June 1916 he was moved to France and disembarked at Marseilles. In late December he was transferred to Signal School and was on command. He joined the 3rd Field Artillery Brigade 17th January 1917. George was wounded with gas poisoning the following month and was admitted to hospital in France for treatment for a couple of week before rejoining his unit on 11th March 1917.
He was promoted to Bombardier in November 1917 and Acting Corporal in June 1918. In September 1918 he took leave and travelled to the UK. He was promoted further to Temproary Sergeant in January 1919.
George was Mentioned in Despatches Awarded and promulgated, 'London Gazette' No 31448 (11 July 1919); 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 124 (30 October 1919). His recommendation date is listed as 27 January 1919. This was a significant honour as it demonstrated that George Matheson’s service was recognised and valued by the Australian military commanders.
Matheson returned to Australia on 6 June 1919. George married Mary Alice Bannan on 27 March 1937. He resided in Snowtown.
George later passed away due to unknown causes on 14 May 1980, aged 85. He was buried at Centennial Park Cemetery in Pasadena, South Australia. Memorials commemorating George Douglas Matheson include the Clare 9th Light Horse WW1 Memorial, the Glenelg and District WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, and the Snowtown & District Roll of Honour.