Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert was born in the coastal town of Port Pirie on the Spencer Gulf on the 14th September 1904 to James and Alice Matthews.
By his early 20’s Bert was working as a labourer and living in Walkerville. In ’29, aged 24 Bert was in the company of fellow labourer, 23-year-old John McGrath. The two had several drinks together in the evening before going to a Grenfell street house to buy beer, then heading to different house owned by "Lofty" Lawrence. Unfortunately for Bert, an argument took placed with a man named Skinner coming to the door, armed with a revolver and told the two to get out. Bert was unaware that his new friend had a gun which he pulled out and fired down the passage. Bert and John returned to the Grenfell street house, where later several others, including "Lofty" and Skinner arrived. Again a gun was pulled on John, who ran at the holder, knocking him down but in the process was knocked unconscious. Eventually regaining consciousness, Bert passed on to John the threat that "Lofty" and his mob were going to ‘do for me’. John went to get his motorcycle to head home but saw some men he believed were “Lofty’s” mob, taking it away. Instead, it was a policeman was taking the motorcycle and sidecar to the watchhouse. Annoyed, John ordered them off before pulled his gun and firing, in the retaliatory action also received several wounds. His initial action killed a police constable. In panic Bert ran, was chased, and arrested but had no firearms with him.
This incredible saga was immediately reported in all major city newspapers including the Recorder, the Register, Chronicle, Observer, News and many country papers as the trial progressed. Being with John when the action occurred, Bert, described as ‘a tall, well-built man’ had his full name splashed in every edition. Several papers added to the intrigue by portraying him as ‘Matthews, who described himself as a labourer, is a native of Port Pirie, and is of big build’. Bert was initially charged with murder, which was later downgraded to attempted murder and then finally and fortunately to him being acquitted of all charges. He was definitely in the wrong place and wrong company. Because there was no evidence to implicate Bert, the Coroner refused to make any finding against him.
Bert married Lillian Amy (Lila) Siviour with the young couple having two sons, Maurice Kevin in ’33 and Graham Keith in ‘35. Bert, a wharf labourer, had a further annoying court appearance in ’39. He was the unsuspecting victim of a pick-pocket while having a beer and a meal with a friend in the ‘Black Swan Hotel’, on North terrace. In going to pay for the meal, Bert found his wallet was missing as was £6 15/- six taxation stamps, and a key. He had obligingly shaken hands with a man who appeared half drunk, who, whilst telling a joke had run his hands over Matthews's body. Fortunately, a sharp-eyed employee at the hotel had witnessed the action as well as the man handing the stolen purse to an accomplice in an action the prosecutor described as ‘the tactics adopted by the defendant were those of a typical pickpocket.'
With the outbreak of WWII, Bert enlisted just prior to his 37th birthday, on the 20th May ’41 and was given the number SX12880, initially being allocated to the 2/43rd Battalion. He and other men then travelled to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for their preliminary training. Soon after, Bert was re-allocated to the 2/48th Battalion reinforcements. He was able to return to his family during pre-embarkation leave before leaving for the Middle East in September, arriving at Dimra on the 20th October ’41.
Almost immediately, Bert was in the midst of action. Inevitably, the dust, flies, heat and desert conditions affected Bert’s physical health with him contracting tonsillitis in August the following year and being treated for two days before he was again back with his battalion.

Within two months, Bert was wounded in the intense action that occurred at the end of October and into November. He sustained a gunshot wound to the perineum in the lower pelvis, causing him to be hospitalised. Conditions for those in the 2/48th were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. Fighting for Trig 29 had begun on the night of the 23rd October. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described how ‘The darkness was rent by flashes from the mouths of over eight hundred guns. The night exploded as no night before had ever done. The desert burst into flame and shattering sound that shook the earth with its fury. Then came the dreadful whispering of thousands of shells rushing by overhead, the shock of explosions as they smashed into the enemy’s guns, men, tanks and communications. The bombers joined in, raining their bombs on the German gunlines. The tranquil stars seemed to quake in their heaven and to recede in horror at such destruction as had never before been witnessed in this land as old as time itself, or perhaps in any land. The smell of cordite drifted chokingly through the air, then dust billowed up and blotted out the flashing guns.’ He later reports that ‘D Company ran up against strong opposition soon after they started’ and that casualties were experienced.
Definitive news slowly drifted back about that horrific battle where the 2/48th lost 199 men killed or wounded of their 292 involved in that night’s conflict – over 68 percent of their men. John Glenn continued: ‘Battalion headquarters was out of communication with D Company, the reason which was not then known, being that all members of D Company headquarters had been either killed or wounded. In fact, 16 of their men had been killed on the objective, leaving a company of six to carry on. Just as the company was nearing its objective, the men had approached two mounds with a saddle in between. Fifty yards from these they were met by a murderous fire from the mounds. D Company immediately went to ground, but the Germans swept the area where they lay in the open. The remnants of the Company were being cut to pieces.”
Back home, the December issue of the Chronicle published a list of those wounded or killed with Bert. Many were from his 2/48th battalion, including SX1719 Sgt. Donald A. L. Harlem, Adelaide; SX12880 Pte. A. J. Matthews, Seaton Park; SX13029 Pte. Henry B. Wall. Peebinga. Missing, Believed Killed. — SX8459 Pte. Joseph Buckley, Albert Park, Vic; SX9327 Lt. Thomas H. Bowman. Ardrossan. Died Of Wounds.— SX13191 Pte. William R. Bowd, Dartmoor, Vic.
Bert went absent without leave in January ’43 for which he received a fine. The following month he was able to leave the Middle East and return home via Melbourne. Finally, the remnants of the 2/48th returned to Adelaide in March. The local News proudly announced ‘With 2½ years of history-making fighting behind it, the 9th Division A.I.F. received a warm welcome on its return to Australia. One of its South Australian battalions has won three Victoria Crosses and 60 other decorations and awards-more than any other A.I.F. unit.’
Brief leave followed before Bert headed to Queensland to train to fight a very different enemy in the tropical conditions of New Guinea. Still unsettled, in April that year, Bert again went absent without leave for a longer period of five days and was fined almost a week’s pay. His physical health resulted in him being treated in Queensland for varicose veins in his right leg but the following month he left Cairns for Port Moresby, arriving in September.
In less than two months and just after his 39th birthday, Bert was killed in action at Finchhaven in New Guinea on the 6th November ’43. Distressingly for all involved it was accidental ‘friendly fire’. Conditions under which the men in his battalion fought were on narrow, single-file tracks which wound through thick jungle. The 2/48th Battalion was making the assault on Sattelberg with troops setting up across various new positions including an abandoned Japanese observation post. The road was cut by numerous ridges or spurs which earned various names describing their physical features including Coconut Ridge, Green Ridge and White Trunk Tree. Shots were fired by a soldier who thought Bert was the enemy and acted instinctively. An in-depth enquiry resulted, with his death declared accidental and results of conditions of service. His death was devastating for his fellow soldiers who were expected to make split-second decisions in the heat of battle, which, with hindsight and time would have been different.
Back home, the Advertiser carried the distressing news that ‘Mrs. A. J. Matthews, of Richards Terrace Seaton Park has been notified that her husband, Pte. A. J. Matthews, was killed in action in New Guinea on November 6. He enlisted in 1940 and served through the whole of the Middle East campaign.’
In March ’44, Bert was re-buried in the Buried in Lae War Cemetery, Morobe Province Papua New Guinea in Plot U Row C Grave 15. He rests with others from his sister battalion, the 2/43rd and the 2/17th. Bert’s family chose the inscription ‘He Shall Rise Again’ for his headstone.
Bert’s sons had grown up and attended school at Redhill, their mother’s hometown. 17-year-old Maurice, who had inherited his father’s lanky build, came to the attention of a newspaper reporter. At that stage, post school, Maurice had tried his hand at painting house roofs, then as a florist before being a newsboy. In between editions of the paper being printed, Maurice spent his time in front of the YWCA hostel in Hindley Street sketching pictures and comics from the newspapers. Some were in Indian ink and others in water colours. His goal was to become a commercial artist and Maurice modestly suggested that he had tried to teach his 15-year-old brother, Graham, also a newsboy, to draw “But he’s not so good”. On sharing this information, he was given hints from the Mail’s resident artist who advised Maurice to draw from life. Sadly, in an added tragedy for the family, 29 years old Maurice was accidentally killed on the 9th June, 1962. He was buried in the Centennial Park Cemetery with his grandmother, Dacia Siviour who had died in November ’52.

Once peace was declared, Lillian had to write, applying for the medals and clasp which Bert had earned. They finally arrived in September ’82; medals that would be of lasting importance for the family. They were the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal Australian Service Medal.

Many family and friends continued to remember Bert on the anniversary of his death.
News Monday 6 November 1944, MATTHEWS.-In loving memory of my son-in-law, and brother-in-law to Doris and Roy, killed in N.G., November 6, 1943. "A painful shock, a blow severe, to part with one we all loved so dear." Inserted by T. M. Siviour, Redhill.
Advertiser Tuesday 6 November 1945, MATTHEWS, A. J. —ln loving memory of Bert. 2/48th. killed New Guinea on November 6. 1943. Gone our dreams that we planned, you gave your life defending our land; a soldier cannot do more than give his life, his all.—Always remembered by loving wife Lila, sons Maurice and Graham. MATTHEWS. Pte. A. J.—Lost his life in N.G, November 6.1943. A thought for today, a memory forever, to show, dear Bert, we still remember.—Ever remembered by his loving mother and cousin Winnie. MATTHEWS.—In loving memory of our brother-in-law Bert, killed New Guinea. November 6. 1943. A leaf in our book of memories Is gently turned today. —Trix and Alex. MATTHEWS. Pte. A. J. (Bert). 2/48th Batt., New Guinea, November 6, 1943. A page In the book or memory Is gently turned today.—lnserted by Doris and Roy. MATTHEWS.—In memory of Bert, 2/48th Batt.. killed In action, NG, November 6. 1943. Resting in a soldier's grave, honored with Australia's brave.— Always remembered by Doug, Blanche and children. MATTHEWS, A. J. (Bert). 2/48th Batt. —Killed New Guinea. November 6. 1943. In memory of a soldier and a man.—lnserted by Doris and Ray. MATTHEWS, A. J—A tribute to the memory of Bert, killed New Guinea. November 6. 1943.—Remembered always by his pals. Alf Bastian, Mary, Malcolm and Warner.
Advertiser Wednesday 6 November 1946, MATTHEWS, A. J. (Bert). SX12880, who made the supreme sacrifice in New Guinea, on November 6, 1943. A tribute to the memory of a soldier and a man. —Inserted by Doris, Alex, Trix and Roy. MATTHEWS.—In loving memory of Bert, killed in action, 1943. No matter what the years may bring, loving memories always cling.—Always remembered by his loving wife Lila, sons Maurice and Graham. MATTHEWS.—In loving memory of Bert, killed in action in New Guinea, on November 6, 1943.—Always remembered by his mother-in-law, Mrs. T. M. Siviour, Red Hill. MATTHEWS, Pte. A. J., SX12880.—In loving memory of my son, who was killed in N.G. on November 6, 1943. Just a line of sweet remembrance Of one who was kind and true, As long as life and memory last, Dear Bert, I will think of you. Sadly missed by his loving mother, cousin Winnie. MATTHEWS, A. J.—In proud memory of Bert, killed New Guinea, November 6, 1943.—Inserted by his pals. Alf Bastian, Mary, Malcolm and Warren.
Advertiser Thursday 6 November 1947, MATTHEWS, Pte. A. J.—Killed in N.G. November 6. 1943. Always so jolly, unselfish and kind. Few in this world his equal to find. To a beautiful life came a sudden end, He died as he lived, everyone's friend. —Ever remembered by his loving mother, Doug, Blanche and family, also his cousin Winnie. MATTHEWS.— Today is a day of remembrance, A day we will never forget. Your memory to us is a treasure, Your loss is our lifetime regret. —Always remembered by your loving wife Lila, sons Graham and Maurice.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133 2/48th Battalion.