Albert Wilfred (Bert) MATTHEWS

MATTHEWS, Albert Wilfred

Service Number: SX7503
Enlisted: 2 July 1940, Wayville, SA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion
Born: Port Pirie, South Australia, 15 June 1903
Home Town: Cobdogla, Berri and Barmera, South Australia
Schooling: Solomontown School, South Australia
Occupation: sawyer
Died: 5 October 1991, aged 88 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Enfield Memorial Park, South Australia
Memorials:
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World War 2 Service

2 Jul 1940: Involvement Private, SX7503, 2nd/48th Infantry Battalion
2 Jul 1940: Enlisted Wayville, SA
2 Jul 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX7503
23 Feb 1944: Discharged
23 Feb 1944: Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX7503

Part of the Cobdogla Crew

Albert Wilfred MATTHEWS SX7503
Albert was born in Port Pirie on June 15th 1903 and attended the local Solomontown School. Although he did not gain his QC (Qualifying Certificate) in 1917, he was adjudged as eligible to be admitted to the Port Pirie District School. Already with a sense of duty, post school Albert joined the Pirie Senior Cadets and was actively involved for three years.
Aged 24, Albert, who was then living at Wirrabara in the mid-north, married Hilda May O’Neil from Meadows at her local Methodist Church on the 9th November, 1927. Albert had given her a beautiful gold armlet which she proudly wore for the ceremony. The young couple were generously supported by the Wade family with Winnie being Hilda’s bridesmaid, her father escorting Hilda down the aisle and the family entertaining guests after the ceremony. Albert chose his brother, Percy Matthews as his best man. Just over four years later, the young couple welcomed a daughter, Barbara on 27th February 1932, born at the Memorial Hospital.
The young family moved to live at Cobdogla on the Murray River. (‘Cobdogla’ is a derivation of an Aboriginal name meaning ‘land of plenty’). It was a close knit, supportive town of hard-working families. For some time Albert worked as a sawyer, but readily turned his hand to a range of job opportunities. With the Depression affecting the availability of work, Albert and his brother resourcefully headed to the South East and Yankalilla district to pick up work as shearers. Others from the area, including Bruno Hombsch who would later also enlist with Albert, found work splitting stumps and carting these to Adelaide to sell.
The outbreak of WWII provided the opportunity for young men to enlist to serve Australia, but also it provided consistent pay. For Albert, already used to having served as a Cadet in his youth, it was not a difficult choice to enlist on June 19th 1941 at nearby Glossop, as did so many of his Riverland friends. He was then aged 37 and young Barbara had just turned 9 years old. Albert was allocated the number SX7503 and placed in the newly formed 2/48th Battalion. Compared with life on the River, army life contributed to Albert having initial problems with rhinitis, an inflammation in the nose that was treated at Wayville before he proceeded to Woodside in the Adelaide Hills for his early training. Pre-embarkation leave was spent back at Cobdogla with Vic Semmens SX8055 and Ken Marrett SX4579.
Albert then boarded the Stratheden on a course for the Middle East. Unfortunately, he contracted an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, which saw him hospitalised in the Australian General Hospital soon after arriving. He also later sustained an accidental gunshot wound to his right forearm and thigh in July 41 which saw him again hospitalised until January the following year. Finally, his 2/48th Battalion left the Middle East in February ’43 to return to Australia, however Albert was again ill with hepatitis. While classified as being fit for duty ‘for which the particular disability is not a bar’ he moved to Garrison Duties. Albert was able to have some leave, returning home with Edwin Watts SX13030 and the three Wine Brothers.
When finally discharged on the 23rd February 1944, Albert became active in his support of others who returned, being a leader in the welcoming home party, including the final group of 28 ex-Service personnel. For a small river town, Cobdogla had 70 enlistments from the district, with four of those losing their lives during the conflict. Albert also was an active supporter of the local school which his daughter, Barbara attended. Disappointingly, she was unable to attend Glossop High’s annual Speech Night in 1949 which was cancelled because of the risk of community transmission of the then pandemic, poliomyelitis. This was a viral infection that caused paralysis of varying degrees. (This is rarely seen in Australia today because of an effective vaccine, however those who contracted it previously have since been found susceptible to Post Polio Syndrome.) That year Barbara was one of 20 students who successfully gained her Intermediate Certificate.
The sport that drew the men together pre-war was also a focus for those who returned post war. Albert became the trainer for the Cobdogla-Barmera football team, which became Premiers in the 1950 competition.
In a freak accident, when ex-servicemen Jack Thomas SX39923 died as a result of a collision with another cyclist at Nuriootpa, Bert was one of six pall bearers to carry the coffin. This reflected the strong camaraderie that existed within the local RSL.
In later years, Albert and Hilda enjoyed sharing time with their grandchildren and later also great grandchildren.
Albert died on the 5th October 1991, aged 88 and is buried in the Enfield Memorial Park, P.W. Robinson Garden of Remembrance. Hilda survived to the age of 97 and died on the 5th June, 1999, now being buried with Albert.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.

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