Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frank Oswald Matt was the youngest son of Edward Matt and Mary Hebden Webster. He was a professional soldier who prior to enlisting in the A.I.F had served four years with engineers, infantry, and No. 2 Battery, Royal Australian Field Artillery. Shortly after the outbreak of World War One Frank Oswald enlisted with the A.I.F at Maribyrnong on the 21st of August 1914 and he was quickly assigned to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade (2nd FAB).

The 2nd FAB sailed from Melbourne in October and after a brief stop-over in Albany, Western Australia they disembarked in Alexandria, Egypt on the 5th of December 1914. After training in Egypt, the artillery embarked for Anzac Cove landing a portion of the headquarters and one gun on the 25th of April 1915. The remaining guns were offloaded over the next few days and weeks. On the 26th of August Frank was either wounded or sick and he reported to the 2nd Field Ambulance beach dressing station and was immediately transferred to hospital at Mudros on the Island of Lemnos. He joined members of his unit on Lemnos at the AIF rest camp in September and returned to Gallipoli on October 6th. The 2nd FAB remained in action until evacuation from the Gallipoli Peninsula, the last rounds being fired on the 15th of December 1915.

After a short lay-over in Alexandria Frank was attached to the 4th Battery, 2nd FAB, shortly before departing for France. After dis-embarking in Marseilles on the 28th of March 1916 Frank was transferred from the heavy artillery to the mortar detachment. Divisional mortar units consisted of light, medium, and heavy trench mortars. The light mortars were issued to infantry units and the medium and heavy mortars were used by the supporting artillery batteries with the usual ratio being one heavy and three medium batteries of four mortars each per division. Frank began as a mortar detachment commander to the X1A Medium Trench Mortar Battery in 1st Australian Division (X refers to battery and 1A to division). He was promoted to bombardier on the 27th of April and corporal five weeks later. The 2-inch medium mortar fired a 23-kilogram spherical bomb to a maximum range of 570 meters. It was a relatively complex piece that required a cool head to operate in battle. It had the option of three propellant charges depending on the range to target and could be fitted with a silencer and flash suppressor. The mortar was operated by a crew of five.

The A.I.F was initially sent to a relatively quiet part of the front line around Armentieres where they held the line, trained their newly formed units and reinforcements, and generally learned the skills of trench warfare. During this time the division undertook raiding operations across the front lines into no man’s land. This tactic of raiding and patrolling was known as peaceful penetration and was a specialty of the ANZAC troops. On the night of the 29th of June 1916, a large raid was mounted near Sailly, about 8 km SSW of Armentieres. The raid comprised 248 raiders and a covering party of 64 supported by 8000 rounds of artillery and 1000 trench mortar rounds. During the raid Frank was in charge of a mortar battery and one of the mortars when discharged failed to fire properly from the tube, travelling only a few feet from the mortar crew, the high explosive fuse still burning. His mortar crew immediately ducked for cover but Frank keeping his head calmly extinguished the burning fuse, unscrewed it, and threw it away. He then upended the bomb and threw it into the mud to dampen the exploder. Frank then dismounted the gun and made necessary repairs keeping the mortar in action until ordered to retire. Major General Harold Walker, General Officer Commanding 1st Australian Division A.I.F recommended Frank for the Victoria Cross stating in part, “By his gallant action in removing the live fuse from the bomb he undoubtedly averted loss of life and injuries to the officers and men of the infantry who were in close proximity to the mortars when the incident occurred”. For whatever reason the recommendation was neither approved nor any lesser award granted.

By July 1916 the 1st Division A.I.F was responsible for a section of the front line on the southern outskirts of Pozieres and was soon ordered to attack the town. After intense preparations the 1st Division began its attack on Pozieres in the early hours of the 23rd of July. As the attack progressed the Division came under terrific fire from the enemy on the left flank. Seeking to silence the enemy artillery Corporal Frank Oswald Matt positioned his mortar crew onto the Pozieres Road in “No Man’s Land” and kept it in action as his crew died around him. Severely wounded Frank’s mortar fell silent. Although he was evacuated to the 3rd casualty clearing station Frank died of his wounds soon after.

For his part in the battle Frank was recommended for the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). The DCM was issued to “Other Ranks” and at that time was second only to the Victoria Cross. Major General Harold Walker wrote the citation, which read in part. “Corporal Matt showed the most heroic gallantry and courage by taking his gun and detachment out into the Pozieres Road in “No Man’s Land” and keeping it in action at the objective allotted to him, until all his detachment were killed and himself severely wounded. On many occasions Corporal Matt has shown conspicuous bravery under heavy fire, both in the service of his gun and in assisting the wounded.” Crossed out by Walker or his staff was a final sentence showing the depth of feeling of his commanding officer, “I cannot too deeply deplore the loss of one of my bravest N.C.Os.” Corporal Matt was buried at Puchevillers Cemetery. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal posthumously on the 19th of August 1916.