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Matthews J R Pte  50

Page history last edited by Lenore Frost 5 years, 6 months ago

Volunteers of Essendon and Flemington, 1914-1918

 

Staff Sgt James Reginald Matthews, 7th Battalion, and his British bride,

Caroline Janette Huggett on their wedding day in London on 13 April

1918. AWM Collection http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P04219.001/

 

Matthews J R     Pte    50    James Reginald     7 Inf Bn    24    Salesman    Single    Pres        

Address:    Essendon, Tennyson St, 85, "Rochester"   

Next of Kin:    Matthews, J, "Rochester", 85 Tennyson St, Moonee Ponds    

Enlisted:    17 Aug 1914        

Embarked:     A20 Hororata 19 Oct 1914 

Prior service:  18 months senior cadets  

 

Relatives on Active Service:

Matthews A L Pte 4233 brother

 

Private James Reginald Matthews,

 

of the 7th Battalion, machine gun section (wounded in action), is the eldest son of Constable J. Matthews, of "Rochester", Tennyson-street, Essendon. He was a permanent employe at Messrs. John Danks and Sons, Bourke street, as salesman, at the time war was declared, and enlisted in the Essendon district. The distinction of M.G. was won by him whilst in Egypt.

 

CAREERS OF THE FALLEN. (1915, May 29). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved February 14, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154959552

 

Essendon Gazette, 3 June 1915

 

Private James Reginald Matthews, MG, of the 7th Battalion, machine Gun section (wounded in action), is the eldest son of Constable J. Matthews, of "Rochester", Tennyson street, Essendon. The distinction of MG. was won by him whilst in Egypt.

 

(Note: the writer of the Gazette items appears to have mistaken the abbreviation for what was probably intended to refer to Machine Gun, as Matthews served in the Machine Gun section of the 7 Infantry Battalion.  There are no awards referred to in his B2455.)

 

TESTAMENT STOPS BULLET
TURKS SHELL WOUNDED

 

How a New Testament given to an Australian soldier by his mother, soft-
ened the blow of a Turkish bullet during the Gallipoti landing, is related by
Private James R. Matthews, son of Constable James Matthews, of Moonee
Ponds, in a letter received by his parents, and written from a hospital ship
on April. 26:—


"We were up at 3.30 a.m. yesterday, and an hour later the enemy started
to shell us with shrapnel. Luckily none came near our ship. Near the
shore, however, we came right into the range of their machine guns and
rifle fire. It was terrific. We rowed for our dear lives, some of the bullets
striking our oars. A comrade who was seated behind me got a bullet right
through the face. As he fell overboard he said, "Good-bye, boys!"


"I had to carry the machine gun ashore, and stumbled and fell several
times. The bullets continued to fall all around us. I dropped the gun,
picked it up, and then I was hit and felt a stinging pain in the left breast.
I tried to get the gun ashore, but failed. One of the Engineers seeing that
I was wounded, came to my assistance. Poor chap! He had just pulled me out
of the water when he was shot right through the head.


"I managed to get to cover and lay down. The wound was not so

serious as I expected. The bullet had struck the New Testament which
mother gave me and made a hole right through it and three photographs
which were also in my pocket. Harold Barker proved himself a little hero,
and bound up my wounds while shells were screaming over our heads. Some
of them burst quite close to us, and I had one of my side-pockets, which
was full of cartridges, cut clean away.

 

"The Engineers deserve great credit. They took off their packs and erected
a shelter-shed, which was soon filled with the wounded who could walk or
crawl. The Turks shelled the wound ed while we were there. A boat even
tually came alongside, and we were taken back to the ship, and made as
comfortable as possible. Finally we were taken on board the hospital ship.
I lost everything with the exception of my tunic, cap, and money-belt, and
came on board wrapped In a blanket"

TESTAMENT STOPS BULLET (1915, June 11). The Herald

(Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 1.  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242361722

 

Essendon Gazette 10 June 1915

 

The following is a copy of a letter from J. R. Matthews to his parents:-

 

Heliopolis
May 8th, 1915.

I am feeling real well, although I still have the bullet in me. One doctor said as it was not causing me any pain or inconvenience, it will be better for it to stay in; than anther doctor said I will have to be X- rayed so as to locate the bullet.  I have been wounded just a fortnight now, the bullet wound has not healed up. Dr. Sutherland, of Ascot Vale, is my doctor. He says I will soon be alright and back at the front. We get first class food, quite a change from bully beef and biscuits. We had a nice concert here yesterday afternoon. Some English ladies and gentlemen from Cairo gave us a few items which were well received. Tonight, some of the Light Horse chaps are going to give us a social evening. I am going to sing "The Veterans Song" if I can get the music. I chose that one because I think it is known to every man here. When the General inspected all the wounded chaps he said that he had never met such a cheerful lot. (Are we downhearted? No!) After lights are out here  of a night, the row is something awful.

 

I have not heard any further word of my poor old Gun Section. I hear that Jacobson, of Chaucer street, Moonee Ponds, was down at Mena Hospital, doing well; but of the other boys no word. The Sisters are simply great; they look after us as if we were big babies. They work like Britons; there are 700 wounded men here and eight sisters to look after us.   We get a lot of visitors meal. The funny part of it is she feeds me with a spoon. She thinks that I cannot use my arms. She calls me one poor brave pet. We came back from the Dardanelles in the hospital ship Gascon; she carried over 500 wounded men.


Later:—Just a card to say that I am nearly all right again, and expect to be sent out  to the convalescent camp shortly. They have not removed the bullet yet; but Dr. Sutherland says it will be an easy matter. I am in the best  of health, and hope to be in the fighting lines before long.

                                                                       From your affectionate son,

                                                                                          JIM.

 

HEROIC VICTORIAN.

LIEUT H BARKER'S BRAVERY

 

A fine tribute to the bravery, resourcefulness, and perseverance of Lance-Corporal Harold Barker, which won him a commission as a lieutenant at the Dardanelles, is contained in a letter from a fellow soldier of the gallant Victorian to his father, a police constable at Moonee Ponds. The letter is published in the "Sporting Judge," and from it we have culled the following extract:—"I owe my life to Harold Barker. Midst all the fire and fury, he left the gun (Lieutenant Barker was in charge of a machine-gun) when I was wounded, dragged me to a place of safety, went back to again face death, working the gun or dragging back as he did me more of his wounded comrades." "Lance-Corporal Barker's deeds won him recognition in the form of a commission," says the "Sporting Judge," "but is there not something in that story for a father to be proud of? Is there not a lot in it for Australians to be proud of?''........  That Lieutenant Barker is continuing his gallant conduct at the front is demonstrated by the fact that since he performed the deed referred to above he has been mentioned in despatches.

 

HEROIC VICTORIAN. (1915, July 31). Bendigo Advertiser (Vic. : 1855 - 1918), p. 4. Retrieved June 9, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article91085447

 

Private J. R. Matthews, of the 7th Battalion, Machine Gun Section, who was wounded at the memorable landing on 25th April, and who still carries the bullet in his chest, returned to the firing line, and was again wounded on 12th August. Private Matthews is a son of Constable Matthews, of Essendon. (Disembarked at Malta.)

 

WITH THE COLOURS. (1915, September 16). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 5 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 15, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74590062

 

 

Private J. R.. Matthews, 7th Battalion, received severe shell shock on August 9th. On his way to Malta he contracted enteric fever, and has been confined to his bed for seven weeks in Imtarfa Hospital. He speaks very highly indeed of the treatment he received whilst there. He has embarked for England.

 

WITH THE COLOURS. (1915, November 11). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 5 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 18, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74590796

 

Private J. R. Matthews (7th Batt.), son of Constable Matthews, of Essendon, is in hospital in Birmingham, where he had the bullet extracted from his left breast; and also underwent an operation for appendicitis, both operations being successful.

 

WITH THE COLOURS. (1916, February 3). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 5 Edition: Morning.. Retrieved January 23, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74591750

 

The Australian rules football team, which represented AIF Administrative Headquarters, 1918-1919 season, in a match against a team from HMAS Sydney at Chiswick Football Ground. The match was won by Headquarters by six goals eight behinds to two goals seven behinds.  Sgt C J Perrett, Australian War Records Section is identified as seventh from the left in the back row, and  Cpl J R Matthews, 7Bn, is the umpire.  AWM Collection. D00172 

 

Essendon Gazette 17 Apr 1919

 

Staff-Sergt J R Matthews, son of Constable J Matthews, of Tennyson street, Essendon, is returning by the "Balmoral Castle", which was due about Tuesday, 15th inst.  Sgt J R Matthews, who left here in August, 1914, is an original Anzac and was wounded twice on Gallipoli, and since going to England with the Australians he has been employed on the headquarters staff.  A very warm welcome is awaiting him from his old friends.

 

Mentioned in correspondence:

Jacobsohn-J-R-Pte-48  Letter to father, circa May 1915 

 

Mentioned in these publications:

Matthews A L Pte 4233 Essendon Gazette reference 25 Nov 1915

One Thousand Days with the AIF

 

 

War Service Commemorated    

Essendon Town Hall L-R

Presentation to Nurse Jacobson                                

Ascot Vale State School                                                                                                    

St Thomas' Anglican Church                                            

Essendon Gazette Roll of Honour Wounded          

Patriotic Concert, Essendon Town Hall, 1914

Regimental Register    

“Send off to the Essendon Boys”

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