MATTHEW, Alec Duncan
| Service Numbers: | 1595, 1595A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 4 December 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 59th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Balmain, New South Wales, Australia, 1895 |
| Home Town: | Balmain, Leichhardt, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Balmain Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Draper |
| Died: | Killed in action, France, 19 July 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 4 Dec 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1595 | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1595, 2nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1595, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Sydney | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1595A, 59th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Alec Matthew went overseas with the 2nd Battalion AIF and was said by his mother to have served right through the whole Gallipoli campaign. Which may be true as it is not clear from his service file as to Anzac service. Alec transferred to the 59th Battalion during the reorganisation of the AIF in Egypt during early 1916. He was reported missing on the 19 July 1916 as were many other hundreds of me from the 59th Battalion which was decimated at Fromelles. It was not till a court of enquiry held in August 1917 that he was declared killed in action.
His older brother, 11359 Gunner William Matthew 2nd Australian Field Artillery Brigade was killed in action 11 October 1917 aged 36.
They were the sons of James Robertson and Diana Matthew, Gordon Road, Roseville, NSW and had been brought up in Balmain, NSW. Their father had passed away in 1910 and the mother, Diana, received all of their medals, entitlements and effects.
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