MATTHEWS, FREDERICK
Rank:
Service No:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment/Service:
Grave Reference:
Text on stone:
Rank:
Service No:
Date of Death:
Age:
Regiment/Service:
Grave Reference:
Text on stone:
Private
3384211
22/09/1944
31
East Lancashire Regiment 1st Bn.
I. F. 9.
Rest in peace
Additional Information:
Husband of Elsie Kate Matthews, of Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.
Initially buried at the cemetery T´Hof in Bergeyk
Initial gravesite at Bergeijk.
From the service records of Frederick Matthews, the following account can be reconstructed.
Frederick Matthews was born on 14 February 1913 in Aberavon, Port Talbot, Glamorgan. He was described as being 5 feet 3¼ inches tall, with blue eyes and fair hair.
He enlisted in the British Army on 14 February 1931 at Port Talbot, joining the East Lancashire Regiment. His early military career included lengthy overseas service, first in Shanghai from 12 February 1932 until 10 January 1937, followed by service in India from 11 January 1937 until 4 February 1938.
From 4 May 1938 until 25 August 1939, Frederick served in the Army Reserve. On 18 October 1939, he married Elsie Kate Matthews in Aylesbury.
During the Second World War, Frederick was sent to North-West Europe on 24 June 1944. He was killed in action on 22 September 1944, bringing to an end a long military career that had begun more than a decade earlier.
Bucks Herald 13 October 1944
