Sydney Clarence Owen Matthews

Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire p.216
Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown
Place of Birth	Adelaide, South Australia
Death	11 May 1915
Place of Death	Shrapnel Gully, Gallipoli
Age at Enlistment	22 yeras, 10 months
Description	5' 9" (1.75m) tall; weight 156lbs (70.8 kg); fair complexion, hazel eyes, sandy hair
Occupation	orchardist
Religion	Church of Christ
Address	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother Mrs Amy Beatrice Matthews
Military Information
Reg Number	1458
Date of Enlistment	14 Oct 1914 (Liverpool NSW)
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	4th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement, C Company / 1st Brigade, 1st Division
Date of Embarkation	2 Dec 1914 - 11 Feb 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A48 Seang Bee
Fate	Killed in Action 8:30am 11 May 1915 Shrapnel Gully renches, Gallipoli
Monument	Kelmscott Kelmscott Congregational Church Honour Board
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Enlisted at Liverpool, New South Wales. Part of his training in Australia included a Signals course at Broadmeadows, Victoria.

A farewell letter written 1st May 1915 to his parents from Alexandria as he embarked for Gallipoli caused his mother to assume that he is already dead or severely wounded. Ironically she was right as he was killed on 11 May. His father received notice from a friend that he was seriously ill before 10 July, and the Army responds on 1 Aug 1915 saying that there is no report of him being a casualty. As late as in December 1915 the military authorities are suggesting that he was still doing his duty at Gallipoli, despite it appearing that his will and personal effects have been returned to Australia (Beneficiary of his will was advised that he was still alive).

One report to his parents suggest he was in Alexandria working in the 17th General Hospital. His death is not officially reported by his CO until 15 March 1916.

In May 1916 a letter from Leah Heath now of 66 Evans street, Balmain makes claim for unpaid money as his Will beneficiary. The will gives her address at the time as Bridgewater street, Rozelle, Sydney. Leah is known to his parents as 'his young lady'.

Notes

Buried 4th BATTALION PARADE GROUND CEMETERY, ANZAC Row C, Grave 22, Son of Sydney and Amy Beatrice Matthews, of Kelmscott, Western Australia. Native of Parkside, South Australia.

On his military file there is a note that contains a statement relevant to Syd's death.

"Informant (Signaller AG Blackham of 4th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcements) knew Matthews, a member of C Company, 4th Battalion, who was killed in the trenches at Shrapnel Gully about 10th or 11th May, 1915, and informant was one of the party who helped to bury him on the same day he was killed, at about 8.30am. Matthews had evidently been killed instantly..............Informant was in the Signal School with Matthews at Broadmeadows Melbourne.