366: Alfred Felton Matthews (photographs; letters; postcards; medals)

Alfred Felton Matthews was the great-uncle of Susan Hargreaves. He was going to be a missionary but joined the army instead when war was announced. He fought in the second battle of Ypres and died on May 5th 1915. His family were always told he was a stretcher bearer, carrying gas victims away from the battle, but that story can't be true as gas wasn't used at that time or in that place. Alfred's body was never found, so his name is on the Menin Gate. The loss really affected his family and they continued trying to locate his body even ten years later. They were sent a set of medals but his name was spelt wrong, so they asked for a replacement set. However, this set of medals was never assembled, probably because the family felt the loss too greatly.