MATTHEWS, Charles
| Service Number: | 48 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 24 December 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 38th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Devon, England, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Not yet discovered |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Belgium, 12 October 1917, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 24 Dec 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 48, 13th Light Horse Regiment | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 May 1915: | Involvement Corporal, 48, 13th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 28 May 1915: | Embarked Corporal, 48, 13th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Persic, Melbourne | |
| 2 Jun 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant | |
| 2 Jun 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant | |
| 1 Jul 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 38th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 38th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 38th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 38th Infantry Battalion | |
| 18 Sep 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 38th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Aubrey Bairstow
Charles Matthews was a 23 year old drapers assistant from Melbourne when he enlisted in January 1915. He stated that he had 2 years prior service with the 3rd County of London Imperial Yeomanry. He was initially posted to the 13th Light Horse and embarked with them in September 1915.
Matthews was promoted to Sergeant in February 1916. The Light Horse remained serving in the Middle East until it was despatched to France in June. On the Western Front, terrain and the nature of the war there limited the roles mounted troops could fulfil, but they were still heavily employed. The 13th Light Horse carried out traffic control, rear area security and prisoner escort tasks, and, when the tactical situation permitted, the more traditional cavalry role of reconnaissance. It was most active during the more mobile phases of the war on the Western Front however in January 1917 Sergeant Matthews was selected as an officer cadet and was sent to England for training.
He was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in June 1917 and was posted to the 38th Battalion at the end of the month.
The 38th fought in its first major battle at Messines, in Belgium, between 7-9 June 1917. It fought in another two major attacks in this sector - the battle of Broodseinde on 4 October, and the battle of Passchendaele on 12 October.
Broodseinde was a success, reflecting careful planning and preparation, but the 38th still suffered 29 per cent casualties. Passchendaele, however, was a disaster, executed in haste amidst horrendous conditions brought on by torrential rain. It was the 38th's most costly operation of the war, resulting in 62 per cent casualties. It was during this battle on 12 October 1917 that Lieutenant Matthews was killed in action.
Reports state that he was shot in the hip by a sniper whilst out ahead of his men. He and his batman, who was also wounded, were able to seek cover in a shell hole, where other men were sheltering. Lieutenant Matthews had his wound bandaged and then the two linked arms and left the shell hole, making in the direction of their lines. Shortly afterwards Matthews was shot in the head and killed. His batman survived.