MATTHEWS, Edward Ashby
| Service Numbers: | 3664, Q50688 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 May 1917, Place of Enlistment, Cairns, Queensland. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 42nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Croydon, Queensland, Australia, 17 September 1898 |
| Home Town: | Cairns, Cairns, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Croydon State School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Myocardial Infarction , Brisbane, Queensland Australia, 8 November 1968, aged 70 years |
| Cemetery: |
Southport General Cemetery, Gold Coast Monumental No.7, Grave No 222. |
| Memorials: | Townsville Railway Station Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 8 May 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3664, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Place of Enlistment, Cairns, Queensland. | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Oct 1917: | Embarked Private, 3664, 52nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Involvement Private, 3664, 52nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 4 Apr 1918: | Imprisoned Third Ypres, This was about the time of the 4th Battle of Ypres There is a newspaper article regarding Ted on his return to Australia; about him being captured by the Germans on the Western Front, but escaping a short time later. The article he was gassed with Phosgene gas in the process. I believe this was one of two events when this could have happened and one of the two times Ted was actually in France fighting. Within a short time, he was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley, England, after being transported back to England on the vessel HMT Western Australian. He was diagnosed as having Pleurisy, and he was in hospital for a month. | |
| 6 Jul 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 42nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 23 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3664, 42nd Infantry Battalion, Returned to Australia. |
World War 2 Service
| 17 Jan 1941: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Q50688 | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 May 1942: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2) |
Help us honour Edward Ashby Matthews's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Arlene` White
Edward was the only son of Edward Hugh Matthews and his wife Fanny Penhallurick. Edward had three sisters, two elder, Elizabeth and Alice and a younger sister Jane.
Edward was 18 years and 7 months old when he joined the AIF in Cairns. Edward had previously been a volunteer soldier in the Australian Citizen Forces for the previous 12 months.
Edward sailed on the same ship as his brother-in-law Horace Royal to England at the end of 1917. Here they parted ways.
Edward only saw fighting in France on two occasions, the rest of the time he was either at the training Depots or ill in hospital.
Edward returned home mid 1919 after many months in the hospital.
Edward explored many different professions during the time of his return to when he married in 1934. He was a fisherman with his father, his further father-in-law and his brothers. He was also a general labourer and finally a Post Master at Southport Post Office.
He married Elizabeth Thelma Medland on the 16th of July 1934 at St Peter's Church, Southport. 'Thelma' was the youngest daughter of George Alfred Medland and his wife Anna Christina James. Thelma had two elder sisters Georgina and Violet, and one elder brother Leonard. Thelma also had two younger brothers, Norman and Philip.
Ted and Thelma had three children, one son and two daughters. (all living as of 2023).
Ted and Thelma lived at Southport until Ted's death. His cause of death: Myocardial infarction, Coronary atherosclerosis, and Chronic bronchitis with emphysema.
Ted was survived by his wife, three children and 8 grandchildren. His granddaughter (AW) wears his medals every ANZAC & Remembrance Day.
He may have been small in structure but was a power of strength to his family.
Always remembered.
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