grantowi Posted 22 May , 2008 Share Posted 22 May , 2008 Hi Chaps, I found this fellow and belive that he's one of my GWR chaps: Name:MATTHEWS, FREDERICK JOHN Initials:F J Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Private Regiment/Service:Coldstream Guards Unit Text:1st Bn. Age:30 Date of Death:22/12/1914 Service No:11685 Additional information:Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Matthews, of 49, Ormond Rd., Wantage, Berks. The chap I have was born in Wantage in 1889 (2q/2c/309) and started work in the GWR Swindon Works as a Lifter on 08/10/1912 (aged 23), The first chap died in 1914 aged 30 and I can see no season for my chap to lie about his age and as Wantage is only a few miles away as the rails fly, I suspect that he would have caught the milk train into Swindon, so he wont show up on any Swindon census / absent voters list. Any help connecting these two appreciated Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eviltaxman Posted 22 May , 2008 Share Posted 22 May , 2008 Grant, I've got a few photos of the GWR memorial held at Temple Meads Station here in Bristol. It's the same GWR memorial as held by many stations. There is a "Matthews F J" listed under the Swindon list under the Locomotives & Carriages section. The photos aren't my best work because the paper memorial is behind perspex! Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 23 May , 2008 Share Posted 23 May , 2008 11685 was born and lived Wantage, enlisting in Reading probably September 1914 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 23 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 23 May , 2008 Hi Les, Thats where I got my name from, also the GWR Magazine. This Frederick is the nearest one to Swindon, I just need some help to connect them, but the ages don't tie up Hi Coldstreamer, I saw that on SDGW, bit for some reason couldn't copy it over :-( Do you have any more on him ? Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 24 May , 2008 Share Posted 24 May , 2008 mic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 24 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 24 May , 2008 Cheers for Mic At the bottom, under "theatre of war served in", it says "date of entry therein". Would that date be when he first embarked to France ? No address on back I suppose? - I should be so lucky :-( Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 25 May , 2008 Share Posted 25 May , 2008 yes to France no address sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 25 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 25 May , 2008 Thanks, Are there any records of when he would have enlisted ? If there are, where would I find them ? Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 26 May , 2008 Share Posted 26 May , 2008 As you can see below from this small sample from my records it would indicate he joined September 1914 (or 2014 as computer doesnt know what century it lives in!) Exact date would be on his service papers. You can buy a copy from the guards archives, wellington barracks, birdcage walk, London for £25 . With such a small amount of service you may not get much extra info for your money than you have already 11667 05/09/2014 11669 06/09/2014 11669 11672 11679 11680 08/09/2014 11682 25/01/2018 11683 11690 04/09/2014 11692 11694 05/09/2014 11696 05/09/2014 11699 05/09/2014 11701 06/09/2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 26 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2008 Thanks, On his service papers, would his civillian occupation have been recorded ? Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 26 May , 2008 Share Posted 26 May , 2008 should be on there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 26 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2008 Cheers coldstreamer Will look for them next week Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 26 May , 2008 Share Posted 26 May , 2008 you need to write to them to get a copy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelPack Posted 26 May , 2008 Share Posted 26 May , 2008 Hello Grant Here is a photo of Frederick. He was obviously MIA before being declared dead. Regards Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 26 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 26 May , 2008 Mel, Cheers for the pic, where did you get it from? Coldstreamer, Do you have a name and postcode for the guards archives ? Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelPack Posted 26 May , 2008 Share Posted 26 May , 2008 Grant It was originally published in the Reading Standard and then reproduced in the 5 CD set of Berkshire and the War. Regards Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 27 May , 2008 Share Posted 27 May , 2008 you just need to address to the Archivist Coldstream Gds - dont know a postcode off hand sorry but there is enough of an address for the post office will try and find it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linge Posted 27 May , 2008 Share Posted 27 May , 2008 Don't know if this helps but I think this is Frederick John Matthews birth reg 1889 Wantage on the 1891 and 1901 Census 1891 Census Cornhill Cottages, West Challow, Berkshire John Matthews, Head, 27, Agricultural labourer, Born Westcott Berks Elizabeth S Matthews, Wife, 30, Born Brimstone Berks William D Matthews, Son, 3, Born Wanborough, Berks Fredk J Matthews, Son, 1, Born West Challow, Berks John Matthews married Elizabeth Sophia Iles in 1887 Wantage RD 1901 Census Manor (?) Farm, Wantage, Berks John Matthews, Head, 35, Cowman on Farm, Born Westcott Berks Elizabeth Matthews, Wife, 40, Born Brimstone Berks William Matthews, Son, 14, ? Boys ? Errand (Porter), Born Wansborough Oxon Frederick Matthews, Son, 12, ? Boys ? Errand (Porter), Born Cornhill Oxon Albert Matthews, Son, 10, Born Cornhill Oxon Edwin Matthews, Son 7, Born Wantage Berks Albert Henry Matthews birth reg 1891 Wantage RD Edwin Arthur Matthews birth reg 1894 Wantage RD John Matthews death reg June Qtr 1915 Wantage aged 47 years Regards Pam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coldstreamer Posted 27 May , 2008 Share Posted 27 May , 2008 Coldstream Gds Archivist Wellington Barracks Birdcage Walk London SW1E 6HQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 27 May , 2008 Author Share Posted 27 May , 2008 Hi Pam, Thanks for the info, this is certainly my chap: Frederick Matthews, Son, 12, ? Boys ? Errand (Porter), Born Cornhill Oxon The boy porter could really place him on the station, and thats a small step to the works. But, it dosen't tie the coldstreamer to my chap as if he died in 1914 aged 30, he would have been born c 1884 Grant Cheers for the address coldstreamer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorHH Posted 18 July , 2009 Share Posted 18 July , 2009 Hi Grant Have recently found your posts regarding Fred Matthews. He is one of the guys I have been researching on the Wantage War Memorial. I have a copy of his service record from the Coldstream Guards which gives his occupation as Wagon Lifter which ties in nicely with your GWR records. If you are interested I have photos of his name on the Le Touret l and Wantage Memorials. Would be interested in any info you have received about him since your last post. Many thanks Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 19 July , 2009 Author Share Posted 19 July , 2009 Trevor, I have PMed you Yes please to offer, will have a look next week to see if I have any more on him Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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