MATTHEWS, Garfield Merson
| Service Numbers: | VX47323, VX47323, |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 July 1940 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/23rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sale, Victoria, Australia, 2 February 1919 |
| Home Town: | Sale, Gippsland, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Sale Technical School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Libya, 22 April 1941, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
El Alamein War Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Alamein Memorial (El Alamein), Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, VX47323 | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Jul 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX47323, 2nd/23rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 16 Nov 1940: | Embarked Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, VX47323,, 2nd/23rd Infantry Battalion, Unit embarked from Melbourne for the Middle East on board HMT Strathmore |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Chris Buckley
Private Garfield Merson Matthews (Service No:VX47323) enlisted in the Army on 18 July 1940 - he had served with 13/19th Light Horse Regiment. Private Mattews was attached to 2nd/23rd Infantry Battalion on 16 November 1940 when his Unit embarked from Melbourne for the Middle East on board HMT Strathmore. Private Matthews was hospitalised in Palestine with Mumps, and had rejoined his Unit when he was reported Missing in Action, later confirmed WiA and taken PoW by the Germans. It was confirmed on 18 May 1940 that Private Matthews had Died of Wounds a short time after being captured on 22 April 1940 between Dimra and Tobruk.
Gar was born in Sale, Victoria in 1919, third of six children of Albert James Matthews (b1882 in Ballarat, Victoria) and Gertrude Elizabeth Thomas (b1889 in Melbourne, Victoria). Both Albert (a Grazier) and Gertrude (a Clerk) were living in Sale, where they married in 1919. They settled in Sale where they raised their family and Albert was a Grazier.
Gar worked on his father's farm in Sale, and stated he was a Truck Driver in his Attestataion Papers when he enlisted in the Army in 1940.
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