Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Clarence George Mathieson, known as Charlie, was born in 1900 at Richmond VIC, the 5th son of 6 children born to his parents Peter and Charlotte Mathieson.  His older siblings were Alfred…known as Alf, Norman, Frederick…known as Fred, Charles and one other younger sibling.  He was educated at Cremorne Street School in Richmond VIC and excelled in sports while at school especially swimming.  After completing his education he worked as a maltster. 

On 16th July 1915 Charlie enlisted for WW1 in the AIF at Melbourne aged 15 years but gave his age as 18.  Just 4 days earlier his older brother Fred enlisted on 12th July aged 19.  The eldest of the brothers, Alf, had enlisted on 22nd February 1915 with the 23rd Infantry Brigade and was already in Egypt training for service at Gallipoli.  Both Charlie and Fred were assigned to the 7th Infantry Battalion 10th Reinforcements and proceeded to Broadmeadows Camp.

Charlie is described as being 5ft 5ins tall with a sallow complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair…the same description as Fred.  His service number was 3084A and his rank Private.  After completing their training Charlie and Fred embarked from Melbourne on 29th September 1915 on HMAT Osterley and disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 25th October 1915 then proceeded to Tel-el-Kebir Camp.    

On 1st February 1916 the Battalion moved to Serapeum Camp.  On 24th February 1916 both Fred and Charlie transferred to the 59th Infantry Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir Camp then on 15th March they both transferred to the 60th Infantry Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir Camp.  In late March 1916 the 60th Battalion moved to Mahsama, Moascar Camp and finally to Ferry Post Camp.  On the 15th April the Battalion moved to Duntroon Plateau to assist in the defence of the Suez Canal.  On 18th April 1916 their brother Alf arrived to join them having transferred to the 60th Battalion from the 23rd Battalion.  A month later the 60th Battalion moved to Ferry Post Camp then to Moascar Camp in early June.  On 17th June the Battalion proceeded to Alexandria where they embarked for France the next day on HMT Kinfauns Castle.  They disembarked at Marseilles, France, on 29th June 1916 and made their way north by train arriving at Rouge-de-Bout on 11th July.  A week later they moved into the frontline trenches and took part in the Battle of Fleubaix at Fromelles on 19th July 1916.  This was a day that changed all their lives forever.  By the end of the day Fred and Alf were wounded and Charlie was initially reported as missing but that was later changed to killed in action.  He was just 16. 

Alf sustained a gunshot wound to his right arm that fractured his humerus and a bullet wound to his right leg.  He was evacuated to England then invalided to Australia on 18th October 1917 and discharged from the service in April 1918.  After the war Alf became a lift attendant and in 1938 he married Maie Seymour.  They welcomed a daughter named Venita.  Alf died in 1961 aged 68.

Fred sustained a gunshot wound to the scalp and was evacuated to England.  After convalescing he returned to France on 11th November 1916 and rejoined the 60th Battalion.  In January 1918 he was detached for duty to England and it was from there that he embarked for return to Australia in late August 1918.  He disembarked at Melbourne VIC on 11th October 1918 and was discharged from the service on 26th October 1918.  After the war Fred worked as a carpenter and in 1919 he married Violet May Beckinsale.  They welcomed 3 children…Clarence, Laura and Raymond.  Fred died in 1935 aged 38. 

Charlie is commemorated on panel 21 of the VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial at Fromelles, France.  The cemetery contains the graves of 410 Australian soldiers who died in the Battle of Fleubaix at Fromelles.  Their bodies were found on the battlefield but not a single one could be identified so it was decided not to mark individual graves but to record their names on a memorial.  The cemetery is situated in what was no-man’s land between the Australian and German lines in 1916 so they have been buried where they fell.

All 3 brothers served in the 60th Battalion D Company.  In 1918 the Richmond Guardian newspaper reported that 100+ Richmond men were in this one company. 

Charlie’s father died on 25th September 1917 so after the war Charlie’s mother Charlotte received a Memorial Scroll, Plaque and Royal Letter from the King, which was presented to the next of kin of those who died while serving in the Australian Imperial Force in WW1, acknowledging Charlie’s service and their loss as a family.            

Clarence George Mathieson was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.   

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 24th October 2023.

Sources

“The Lost Boys” written by Paul Byrnes (Book)