Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Stuart William Matters was born on the 11th of January 1889 at Malvern, Adelaide. He was the third of five children of Thomas James Matters second marriage to Jane Beadnell (Nee Waterhouse). His siblings were Clement Waterhouse (1884 - 1961), Arthur Towers (1887 - 1980), Reginald Francis “Rex” (1892 - 1975) and Mary Dorothea “Mollie” (1899 - 1979). He also had a half-brother and four half-sisters (only two survived infancy) from his father’s first marriage to Emily Novis (1841 – 1881).

Stuart’s father was a real estate agent and leader of the firm Matters and Co. he became a member of the Adelaide City Council and in 1925 he became president of the Licensed Landbrokers’ and Auctioneers’ Association.

Schooling

Stuart attended Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, from at least 1905. He was in the PAC Cadets for 18 months. Stuart passed his Junior Examinations in 1906.

He was well known at the College for his athletic abilities. In 1906, he competed in Inter-Collegiate events against Scotch College (Melbourne) and St Peter’s College. In the 1907 PAC Sports, Stuart won the High Jump and the College Cup. He also won the High Jump in the Inter-Collegiate competition against St Peter’s (5’6 ½”). Stuart was in the PAC Football team in 1906 & 1907. He played football as an Old Scholar in the match against Present boys in August 1909.

School of Mines

Stuart commenced studying at the School of Mines in 1908. He passed Mathematics 1 and Woodwork in 1908. He also passed Arts Examinations in 1908, Building and Construction I, Drawing II &Fitting & Turning in 1909 and Electrical Engineering I & Applied Mechanics III in 1910. He was listed as a student at the University of Adelaide (Arts and Science) in 1910 so would have enrolled for a subject as a non-graduating student. There is no record of him passing any subject.

Stuart won the High Jump at the School of Mines Annual Sports in 1908 (State Record 5’ 8½”), 1909 and 1910 and the School Cup in 1908 & 1909.

He played football for the School of Mines against Melbourne Church of England Grammar School in 1909.

University Sport

Football
In 1910 the Adelaide University did not have a football team in regular competition; however, they did form a side to play an Intervarsity match against Melbourne University in August 1910. Stuart was a member of the side. Melbourne won 14.10 to 8.11 and Matters scored a goal.

Career
By October 1912, Stuart was based at Berri and was carrying out preliminary survey work with the laying out of land under the direction of Mr Loveday of Cobdogola. Stuart assisted in setting up the Methodist Sunday School at Berri. He was listed among the members of the Irrigation & Reclamation Department in a 1916 roll of Honour of Civil Service recruits. In 1913 Stuart passed the Senior Public Examinations in Drawing.

World War I

Stuart enlisted on the 1st of July 1915, in the 11th Field Company Engineers, Section 2. He was described as a surveyor, 25 years and six months of age, single, 5’11”, 174 lbs, with a fair complexion, grey hair and brown eyes. In March 1916, he was appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant and embarked on the 31st of May 1916 onboard the HMAT Suevic, from Adelaide arriving at Devonport, England on 21st of July 1916. In October 1916 Stuart competed in an ANZAC Sports on Salisbury Plains., coming third in the High Jump.

On 24th of November 1916, Stuart proceeded to France and was promoted to Lieutenant on 1st of January 1917. On the 7th of March 1918 Stuart joined the Army Modelling School, he returned to the field on the 22nd of March 1918. On 24th of April 1918 Stuart was wounded in action (gunshot wound to right foot). After recovering in hospital in England and a period in Training, Stuart returned to France on 19th of July 1918. At the cessation of hostilities Stuart had a brief period of leave in Italy before returning to England. On the 7th of February 1919 Stuart was Mentioned in Despatches. In March and April 1919, he worked with the Ordinance Survey Department and attended the AIF Surveying School. Stuart returned to Australia on 21st of June 1919.

Resuming Career

After the war Stuart returned to the Irrigation Department as a surveyor and in a restructure in March 1920 he was appointed to the dual roles of reclamation engineer and surveyor.

Family Life

On the 16th of June1920, Stuart married Doris Gordon, the daughter of David John Gordon, M.L.C. at the Stow Methodist Church, Adelaide. A reception was held after the wedding at home of the Gordon family in Victoria Avenue, Unley. Doris was a trained nurse and she had enlisted in the Australian Army Nursing Service in September 1916 and served in France and Italy.

Doris’ father was a journalist, author and politician who was knighted in 1925 and her mother was actively involved in welfare and charitable activities. Doris’ two brothers (Douglas and John) and a cousin (James Lewis) joined the 10th Battalion and were part of the Gallipoli Landing on 25th April 1915. Sadly, James was killed sometime between the 25th and 29th of April 1915. Douglas married Stuart’s sister, Mary Dorothea, in April 1924. Doris was actively involved in the Returned Sister’s Sub Branch of the R.S.S.L.L.A..

Stuart and Doris had two daughters, Mary Gordon Matters (1921) and Jeanette Gordon Matters (1924).

Other Interests
Stuart was President of the 11th Field Company Engineers annual reunion committee from at least 1923 – 1929. In conjunction with other family members, he became a shareholder in Wongyarra Estates Limited. Stuart left the Irrigation Department and became a licensed surveyor. By 1928 he had joined his father’s firm, Matters & Co. In 1929, Stuart went on a holiday tour of Colombo (Ceylon, now Sri Lanka). Stuart became the Treasurer of the South Australian Institute of Surveyors in 1933.

Sadly, in August 1933, Doris’ mother died suddenly. The same year, Stuart had been back studying at the School of Mines and in December he received a pass in Rural Economics.

From 1937, Stuart’s name started appearing regularly in the newspapers playing golf at Kooyonga and in the A.I.F Annual Golf Days. He also took a keen interest in Tennis attending the international tennis tournaments at Memorial Drive with his wife and daughters in January 1938. He competed in the Veteran’s Doubles Tennis (Handicap) in January 1939 and the Invitation Doubles in February 1940.

World War II

Stuart enlisted for WWII (SN S70134); however, he does not appear to have served overseas. His WWII service record was not available at the time the document was written. Stuart and Doris gave their elder daughter Mary a ‘Rose Dance’ for her debut in June 1940. Mary enlisted in the A.A.M.C. and served in Queensland. She held the rank of Lieutenant.

After WWII

In December 1945, Mary became engaged to Major Hugh Collis Barry, the only son of Mr and Mrs D.R. Barry of Wahroonga, N.S.W. Sadly, her grandfather, Sir David Gordon, did not see her marriage as he passed away in February 1946. Mary was a physiotherapist and was stationed at the Holland Park military hospital in Queensland. Mary and Hugh married at St. Augustine's Church, Unley in April 1946.

On the 30th of January 1947, Stuart and Doris’ younger daughter (Jeanette) married Stephen V.R. Day at St Augustine’s Church Unley. Mary and Dr Hugh Barry of Sydney, N.S.W., had at least three children, Robert (1947), Jane and John Collis Barry (by 1952) when they visited Stuart and Doris at Erindale.

Death

Mary passed away on the 30th of September 1966, aged 66 years. Stuart passed away on the 22nd of May 1970, aged 81 years, His last abode was at Erindale. Doris and Stuart were cremated at Centennial Park, Adelaide.


Additional Details re WWII
Stuart's Service Record is at
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6416230

Stuart enlisted on 7 May 1942 and was discharged on 30 December 1942 - for not attending parades.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.