MATTHEWS, Charles
| Service Number: | 1174 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 February 1916, D Coy |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 36th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Goulburn, New South wales, Australia, 6 December 1883 |
| Home Town: | Wickham, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Died: | Natural causes, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia, 21 September 1935, aged 51 years |
| Cemetery: |
Botany General Cemetery, New South Wales ABB - Anglican FM BB, Position 421 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1174, 36th Infantry Battalion, D Coy | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 May 1916: | Involvement Private, 1174, 36th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 13 May 1916: | Embarked Private, 1174, 36th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 8 Jun 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1174, 36th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines, Severe Gas Poisoning | |
| 25 Nov 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1174, 36th Infantry Battalion, per HT Ormonde | |
| 21 Dec 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1174, 36th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Charlie was the fourth of nine children of William Charles Matthews (born 1851 in Gloucestershire, England) and Mary Jane Mulholland (born 1853 in County Tyrone, Ireland). William was nine years of age when he arrived in Sydney NSW on board the Golconda, and Mary was nine years of age when she arrived in Sydney, NSW on board the Ocean Empress. William and Mary married in 1877 in Picton, Sydney, NSW and moved to Goulburn where they raised their family. William, a locomotive engine driver was killed in 1913 near Tallong when he fell off his engine.
Charlie was a Carpenter in 1909 when he married Kathleen (Kate) Emma Thomas (born 1887 in Ipswich, QLD). Charlie and Kate were living at Wickham in Newcastle, NSW in 1916 when Charlie enlisted in the AIF as a Private (Service No:1174) with D Coy 36th Infantry Battalion. He was a Lance Corporal when he was WiA at Messines, Belgium in June 1916 - severe gas poisoning, and was Discharged in December 1918. Charlie's brothers - Norman Edgar (Corporal, Service No:157); Reginald John (Gunner, Service No:2591); Horace (Driver; Service No:3528) and William Charles (Driver, Service No:3875) also served in WWI.
Charlie returned to Wickham, Newcastle, NSW and worked as a Carpenter, and 'Returning from service in the Big War, Mr Matthews never really recovered his health ..... periodically been a patient in the Military Hospital at Randwick, but nothing could be done for him. Charlie Matthews had many splendid traits of character, and was ever ready to help any public movement that aimed at benefiting some worthy object' (Trove - The Wingham Chronicle 1935). Charlie died in hospital at Randwick in 1935. Kate died in 1950.
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