Life story: William John Matthews | Lives of the First World War

Timeline

1882

sibling Sarah J. Matthews Source:8807127 1882

1884

sibling Elizabeth H. Matthews Source:8807127 1884

1889

sibling Agnes M. Matthews Source:8807127 1889

1891

sibling Charles Ellis Matthews Source:8807136 1891

1893

birth Trumpington, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom Source:8709832 Source:8807127 1893

1895

sibling Bertie Harry Matthews Source:8807136 1895

1896

sibling Ellen Matthews Source:8807127 1896

1901

location Cambridge Road, Trumpington, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom parents address Source:8807127 1st April 1901

1911

employment House-boy domestic Trumpington, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom Source:8807136 3rd April 1911

1911

location High Street, Trumpington, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom parents address Source:8807136 3rd April 1911

1915

enlistment Wimbledon United Kingdom Source:9610312 8th December 1915

1916

hospitalisation Wounded in action Hospital/Institution Source:9610328 14th November 1916

1917

hospitalisation Wounded in action Hospital/Institution Source:9610328 5th May 1917

1918

awards Military Medal (MM) British Award/Decoration Source:8807507 21st March 1918

1918

commission Temporary Source:9616694 19th May 1918

1918

service British Army Second Lieutenant Suffolk Regiment Source:8807230 19th May 1918

1918

hospitalisation Suffering from trench fever Hospital/Institution Source:8807507 26th July 1918

1918

awards Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) British Award/Decoration Source:8807507 1st October 1918

1919

discharge Source:8807217 4th February 1919

1919

marriage Polly Harmour Source:8807181 1919

1927

location 5 Searle Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom their own address Source:8807177 1927

service British Army Acting Sergeant 326837 Suffolk Regiment Source:8807174

1989

death Not War Related Cambridge United Kingdom Source:9412567 January 1989

Details

Names

Type	Name
First Names	William John
Initials	WJ
Last Name	Matthews
Source	2976017

Gender

Gender	Source
Male

Locations

Address	Country	Type	Date
5 Searle Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire	United Kingdom	their own address	known 1927
Cambridge Road, Trumpington, Cambridgeshire	United Kingdom	parents address	known 1st April 1901
High Street, Trumpington, Cambridgeshire	United Kingdom	parents address	known 3rd April 1911

Contribution

Military Service

Service	Number	Unit	Section	Rank	Source
British Army	326837	Suffolk Regiment		Acting Sergeant
British Army		Suffolk Regiment		Second Lieutenant

Awards

Award	Type	Source
British War Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal
Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)	British Award/Decoration
Military Medal (MM)	British Award/Decoration
Victory Medal	First World War Campaign/Service Medal

Family

Parents

Name	Relationship	Dates	Source
Ellis Matthews	father
Elizabeth Hannah Matthews	mother

Siblings

Name	Relationship	Dates
Sarah J. Matthews	sister	1882
Elizabeth H. Matthews	sister	1884
Agnes M. Matthews	sister	1889
Ellen Matthews	sister	1896
Charles Ellis Matthews	brother	1891
Bertie Harry Matthews	brother	1895

Spouse

Name	Relationship	Dates	Source
Polly Harmour	wife	1919

Physical

Complexion	Eyes	Hair	Source

Date	Height	Source
1915-12-08	5'6"

Media

Lieut. W. J. Matthews, Cambridgeshire Regiment

"Lieut. W. J. Matthews, of Trumpington, Cambs. Regt., was awarded the Military Medal for excellent work as a runner on 21st March" - extract from caption to photograph published in Cambridge Independent Press, 23 August 1918, p.6

Contributed by:
Wendy54828
William John Matthews D.C.M., M.M.

Great Uncle William outside his flat taken late 1970's / early 1980's

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Service Record extract

Entry from his service record showing postings etc. Wounded with the Cambridgeshire Regiment 14/11/1916 at St Pierre Divion and again 05/05/1917 near Ypres

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Service record entry

Copy of the original hand-written note from his commanding officer Lt Col Tuck recommending William for an immediate commission.

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Award of DCM

Extract (1) from History of the Suffolk Regiment by Lt Col Murphy

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Commissioned in the Field

Extract (2) from History of the Suffolk Regiment by Lt Col Murphy

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Promoted to 2nd Lt.

Extract (3) from History of the Suffolk Regiment by Lt Col Murphy

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Matthews family reunion c.1970

L to Rt. : Joan Lowe (daughter of William's sister Elizabeth Lowe nee Matthews), Polly Matthews ( William's wife), William Matthews, Sarah Jane Garner (my grandmother, nee Matthews), Ellen Burbridge ( 'Nellie', nee Matthews) & Agnes Matthews ( see story ref Agnes, William and the death of their brother Bertie Harry Matthews K.i.a. 1917)

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Medal Index Card

Copy of William's Medal Index Card

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Index card for DCM

Index Card giving Gazette date for the award of 3/10/18

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Attestation form

Copy of his Attestation Form. Enlisted 8th December 1915 at Wimbledon and signed off 24th January 1916 for the Cambridgeshire Regiment by Approving Officer, Cambridge

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Enlistment Form physical details

Form giving physical details, dates when he was wounded and the award of his Military Medal

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Appointment of Commission

Appointment of his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant 19/05/1918 and posted to 11th Bn. Suffolk Reg't.

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
War diary entry for M.M.

Extract from the Battalion War Diary listing his Military Medal Award. Both his service number and initials incorrectly entered.

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
War Diary entry for D.C.M.

Extract from the Battalion War Diary listing his award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His service number incorrectly listed.

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
St Pierre Divion & The Schwaben Redoubt

Extract from the Battalion War Diary showing an October 1916 Trench Map of the trenches around the Schwaben Redoubt and St Pierre Divion where William was wounded on the 14th November.

Contributed by:
Adrian149697
Relinquishes Commission

Commission relinquished on account of being unfit for further military service owing to illness contracted while on active service - Trench Fever. Retains rank of 2nd Lieutenant and awarded the Kings Certificate.

Contributed by:
Adrian149697

Communities

Trumpington men and women of WW1

Trumpington men and women of WW1

More about Trumpington men and women of WW1

Evidence

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Official Records

Title	Connected by	More information
Medal Index Card
Medal Index Cards Transcription	Kristen1288
Medal Index Cards Transcription	Kristen1288

External Evidence

Reference	Connected by	More information
Birth record in Free BMD database	Wendy54828
Census 1901 England, Cambridgeshire, Trumpington, District 3	Wendy54828
Census 1911 England, Cambridgeshire, Trumpington, District 20	Wendy54828
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920	Wendy54828
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920	Wendy54828
Marriage record in Free BMD database 1919	Wendy54828
London Gazette Supplement to Issue 30830 2 August 1918 p.9245	Wendy54828
London Gazette Supplement to Issue 31160 3 February 1919 p.1765	Wendy54828
London Gazette Supplement to Issue 30744 13 June 1918 p. 7029	Wendy54828
London Gazette Supplement to Issue 30932 1 October 1918 p.11661	Wendy54828
Cambridge Independent Press, Friday 26 July 1918 p.5	Wendy54828
DCM citation	Adrian149697
William John Matthews death	Adrian149697

Multimedia

Title	Connected by	More information
Lieut. W. J. Matthews, Cambridgeshire Regiment	Wendy54828
William John Matthews D.C.M., M.M.	Adrian149697
Service Record extract	Adrian149697
Service record entry	Adrian149697
Award of DCM	Adrian149697
Commissioned in the Field	Adrian149697
Promoted to 2nd Lt.	Adrian149697
Matthews family reunion c.1970	Adrian149697
Medal Index Card	Adrian149697
Index card for DCM	Adrian149697
Attestation form	Adrian149697
Enlistment Form physical details	Adrian149697
Appointment of Commission	Adrian149697
War diary entry for M.M.	Adrian149697
War Diary entry for D.C.M.	Adrian149697
St Pierre Divion & The Schwaben Redoubt	Adrian149697
Relinquishes Commission	Adrian149697

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We remember William John Matthews

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We remember William John Matthews

We remember William John Matthews

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Timeline

Timeline

1882

1884

1889

1891

1893

1895

1896

1901

1911

1911

1915

1916

1917

1918

1918

1918

1918

1918

1919

1919

1927

1989

Details

Details

Parents

Siblings

Spouse

Media

Media

Communities

Communities

Trumpington men and women of WW1

Evidence

Evidence

Official Records

External Evidence

Multimedia

Stories

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We remember William John Matthews