31487: Harry Howie Matthew from Fyvie, Aberdeenshire

online resource

posted on 2024-01-17, 17:23 authored by Lest We Forget Project Team

Harry Howie Matthew was my mother's uncle. He was the seventh child of Mr. Alexander and Mrs. Jessie Ann Matthew. He was born at Gourdas, Fyvie on 8th November 1893.

His regiment was the Gordon Highlanders and in was in "C" Coy., 1st/5th Battalion. His service number was 2269. He was killed by an aerial torpedo bomb in the trenches at the Battle of Arras, France, on 20/03/1916 aged 22. He is buried at Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St-Eloi, Pas de Calais, France. His commanding officer, Capt J Arbuthnott, wrote to Harry's mother and father when he died to inform him of his death and to offer sympathy. The letter says that Harry was well liked and respected.

He is recorded in 'Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914-1919' as follows: Name: H. Matthew; Death Date: 20 Mar 1916; Death Place: France and Flanders; Enlistment Place: Peterhead; Rank: Private; Regiment: Gordon Highlanders; battalion: 5th Battalion; Regimental Number: 2269; Type of Casualty: Killed in action; Theatre of War: Western European Theatre.

Harry had four brothers who also served in the war. They were Alexander Matthew, Robert Moir Matthew (born about 1893), George Matthew (born about 1895) and Herbert Matthew (born about 1897). A printed publication gives brief details of their service as well as that of Harry Howie Matthew. It was viewed at the Gordon Highlanders Museum, Aberdeen, in 2011. It refers to Harry as Henry Howie Matthew and says he was a farm servant. He served in 5th Gordon Highlanders. Private. Served - France, 1915 - 1916. He was killed by an aerial torpedo bomb in trenches at Arras, 20th March 1916.

Alexander Matthew was a chauffeur. He served in the 15th Divisional Supply Column, Mechanical Transport, Royal Army Service Corps, 1915-1918; 620 Company, Regent's Park, London. December 1918 - April 1919. Private. Served - England, 1st February 1915 - July 1915; France, July 1915 - May 1918; England, June 1918 - April 1919. Wounded at Duisans, Arras, May 1918.

Herbert Matthew was a farm servant. He served in 9th Gordon Highlanders. Private. Served - France. Knee disabled with wire entanglement, 10th April 1918. Took part in battles of Arras and Soissons.

George Matthew was a farm servant. He served in 8/10th Gordon Highlanders; attached to Labour Corps. Private. Served - France, on Somme. Disabled while acting as stretcher-bearer, December 1917. Took part in the March offensive, 1918.

Robert Moir Matthew was a farm servant. He served in 9th Gordon Highlanders. Private. Served - France. Took part in battles of Arras and Soissons.

History

Name of contributor(s)

Anon

Subject of the story/individual the object(s) relate to

Harry Howie Matthew. Private, "C" Coy, 1st/5th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders.

Date(s) the event(s) in the story took place

20/03/1916

Location(s) where the event(s) in the story took place

Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Battle of Arras, France. Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St-Eloi, Pas de Calais, France.

Object(s)

1. Photograph of Harry Howie Matthew. 1 image. 2. Details of Harry Howie Matthew. 1 image. 3. Letter, dated 3/4/16, from Capt J Arbuthnott to Mr and Mrs Matthew. A letter of sympathy about the death of Harry Howie Matthew. 2 images. 4. A page from a Printed Book which gives brief details of the service of soldiers from Fyvie. 1 image. 5. Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St-Eloi, Pas de Calais, France (CWGC). 1 image. 6. Casualty details for Harry Howie Matthew (CWGC). 1 image. 7. Dead Man's Penny for Harry Howie Matthew. 1 image. 8. Commemorative Certificate from CWGC for Harry Howie Matthew. 1 page pdf file. 9. Extract from Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 for H. Matthew. 1 page pdf file.