SHAW, Mathew Joseph
| Service Number: | 7349 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 3 November 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Port Augusta, South Australia, 2 February 1885 |
| Home Town: | Port Augusta, Port Augusta, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Port Augusta, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Grocer |
| Died: | Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Port Augusta, South Australia, 16 January 1920, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
Port Augusta Carlton Parade Cemetery RC, Block 21, Plot 2 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Nov 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 7349, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1917: | Involvement Private, 7349, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Borda embarkation_ship_number: A30 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jun 1917: | Embarked Private, 7349, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Borda, Adelaide | |
| 22 Feb 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, 7349, 10th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
Matthew was the son of James MARRS & Elizabeth GURRY and was born on the 2nd of February 1885 in Pt Augusta, SA.
He never knew his mother as she died just ten days after his birth.
His parents were married on the 3rd of June 1871 in the Catholic Chapel in Navan, SA (near Riverton).
His father was the son of William MARRS & Eliza RYAN and was born in 1843 in Goulburn, NSW.
His mother was the daughter of Richard GURRY & Elizabeth FIANS and was born in 1843 in Summerhill, Meath, Ireland.
Matthew was the youngest child born into the family of 5 children.
Matthew’s father was a wheelwright and after Elizabeth’s death he was unable to care for Matthew.
Matthew was only 2 weeks old when he was fostered to Mr Henry & Mrs Matilda Amelia SHAW, of Mackay Street, Pt Augusta.
Henry and Matilda had married on the 5th of October 1880 in Sevenhills, SA.
Henry SHAW was the son of Levi SHAW & Ann DOWN and was born on the 20th of August 1852 in Woodside, SA.
Matilda Amelia FRANCIS was the daughter of John FRANCIS & Eliza BOULDING and was born on the 10th of February 1857 in Mintaro, SA.
Henry & Matilda had no children of their own.
Matthew was educated in Pt Augusta and upon leaving school became a clerk and was employed by the Pt Augusta Banking Office. By 1909 he was there agent in Petersburg (Peterborough).
His foster-father, Henry died in his home on the 3rd of May 1909 from Heart Failure and they buried him in the Pt Augusta Cemetery; Unleased, Row 53, Plot 6.
In July 1909 he was convicted of Embezzlement.
Matthew had embezzled £1, the money of the Colonial Mutual Fire Insurance Company and he pleaded guilty.
Mr. Barwell appeared for Matthew and asked that “as it was his first offence and as the prosecutor did not wish to press the charge, and that Matthew had promised to make restitution”, Matthew might be allowed the provisions of the First Offenders Act.
His Honour pointed out that in the lower court Matthew had made an impudent defence and had not made restitution in the meantime.
Mr. Scharenherg, late of Port Augusta said that he had known Matthew for a long time and he had always born a good character.
Mr. Entwhistle, Secretary of the Colonial Mutual Insurance Company, said that the defalcations so far as they knew amounted to about £10 in small lots of about £1.
Alfred Ward, Insurance Inspector, deposed that he first found out defalcations in Matthew’s accounts in April. After the summons had been issued Matthew asked him to withdraw the summons. Alfred suggested in the end that it would be in Matthew’s favour if he paid the amount into Court.
Mr. Entwhistle said there was no salary due to Matthew when he was summonsed.
Matthew was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, with hard labour, in Yatala Gaol, on each or the three counts and the sentences were to be concurrent.
Matthew was released from Yatala on the 19th of March 1910 and returned to Pt Augusta and gained employment as a Grocer.
Matthew enlisted into the AIF on the 28th of January 1915 in Keswick and was allotted the service number 2196 and posted to A Company, Base Infantry.
He enlisted as Matthew MARRS.
On the 31st of March he was posted to the 10th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements in Mitcham Camp, but then deserted and eventually surrendered.
Matthew was discharged from the AIF on the 22nd of April 1915 as he was unlikely to become an efficient soldier.
At the age of 31, Matthew re enlisted into the AIF on the 3rd of November 1916 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 7349 and posted to C Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
Matthew was transferred to the 10th Battalion, 24th Reinforcements on the 1st of March and embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Borda on the 23rd of June 1917, disembarked in Plymouth on the 25th of August.
He never proceeded to France and became very ill in England and embarked for Australia from Devonport on the 24th of August 1918 on board SS Medic, disembarking in Adelaide on the 11th of October.
Matthew was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit, on the 22nd of February 1919 and awarded the British War Medal.
His paternal father died on the 12th of January 1918, whilst he was in England.
Matthew returned to Pt Augusta and lived with Matilda.
He died of Pulmonary Tuberculosis on Friday the 16th of January 1920 in their home, aged 35 years.
He was buried the following day in the Pt Augusta Cemetery; RC, Block 21, Plot 2.
Father Cain officiated at the graveside.
Military
Matthew originally enlisted into the AIF on the 28th of January 1915 in Keswick and was allotted the service number 2196 and posted to A Company, Base Infantry.
He enlisted as Matthew MARRS.
He listed his brother, James MARRS, of 123 Morphett Street, Adelaide, as his next of kin.
On the 31st of March he was posted to the 10th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements in Mitcham Camp, but then deserted and eventually surrendered.
Matthew was discharged from the AIF on the 22nd of April 1915 as he was unlikely to become an efficient soldier.
At the age of 31, Matthew re enlisted into the AIF on the 3rd of November 1916 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 7349 and posted to C Company, 2nd Depot Battalion.
He listed his foster mother, of Pt Augusta Extension, as his next of kin.
On the 16th of November he was admitted into the Exhibition Camp Clearing Hospital, suffering from chronic Otitis Media. He was then transferred to the 7th Australian General Hospital in Keswick and whilst here he went AWOL on the 29th of November for a day and was fined 5/.
On the 4th of December he was discharged to the 17th Auxiliary Hospital at Torrens Park for six days before rejoining his Company in Mitcham Camp. Whilst he was here he went AWOL for five days and was fined 10/ and forfeited 5 days pay.
He then went AWOL from Mitcham Camp on the 18th of December for a few weeks and was classified as a deserter and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He returned and the warrant was cancelled, but he was awarded 18 days pay forfeited.
On the 11th of January he was admitted into Torrens Island Quarantine Station fro four weeks, suffering from Gonorrheae. He returned to Mitcham Camp but then went AWOL on the 21st of February for ten days and fined £1 and forfeited 10 days pay.
Matthew was transferred to the 10th Battalion, 24th Reinforcements on the 1st of March and then went AWOL for five days and was awarded seven days detention.
On the 13th of April Matthew went AWOL for fifteen days and was awarded fourteen days detention.
Matthew embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT Borda on the 23rd of June 1917, disembarked in Plymouth on the 25th of August and marched into the 3rd Training Battalion in Durrington.
On the voyage they had called into Durban on the 20th of June and whilst here Matthew went AWOL from the ship for 24 hours and warded nine days forfeited pay.
On the 7th of October he was admitted into the Bulford Military Hospital for six days suffering once again, from Gonorrheae. He had only been discharged fro four days when he was re admitted with the same condition.
This time he remained in hospital until the 20th of December and then discharged to Parkhouse Hospital in Salisbury Plain, for a further eight days.
On the 25th of February 1918 he was admitted into the Military Hospital in Sutton Veny for four weeks, suffering from an Anal Fistula.
On his discharge from hospital he reported to No.1 Command Depot and whilst here he was re admitted on the hospital on the 6th of April suffering from the same condition.
After a further four weeks in hospital he was discharged back to No.1 Command Depot on the 6th of May.
Three weeks later, on the 26th of June, Matthew was admitted back into the Military Hospital in Sutton Veny, suffering from Influenza and whilst here he was then diagnosed with Tuberculosis of the lung.
He was discharged on the 18th of July to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth and recommended to be invalided back to Australia.
Matthew embarked for Australia from Devonport on the 24th of August 1918 on board SS Medic, disembarking in Adelaide on the 11th of October.
He was then admitted into the 15th Australian General Hospital at Torrens Park the following day and then transferred to Bedford Park Sanatorium the following week.
Matthew remained here for three more months until he applied for his discharge from the AIF on the 6th of February 1919. He stated he did not want any further treatment at the Bedford Park Sanatorium.
Matthew was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit, on the 22nd of February 1919 and awarded the British War Medal.