Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.129 | |
| 2. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 27A GQS | |
| 3. Memorial: | Liverpool Masonic Hall War Memorial | Col.3. Hope St. | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Son of the late Capt. Mathews (Merchant Service) and Catherine Mathews; husband of Ada A. Mathews, of 5, Glover St., Birkenhead.Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: SS Merion (HMSSV14) |
Merion SS in 1914 she was sold by the American Line to the British Admiralty to operate as a dummy battlecruiser representing HMS Tiger. She was torpedoed off Strati Island, Aegean Sea, near the entrance to the Dardanelles on the 30th May 1915 by German submarine UB-8 (Ernst von Voigt) |
| Action : Gallipoli |
The Gallipoli Campaign was fought on the Gallipoli peninsula 25th April 1915 to 9th January 1916. in a failed attempt to defeat Turkey by seizing the Dardanelles and capturing Istanbul. Ill-conceived and planned, the initial effort by the Royal Navy failed to force passage through the Dardanelles by sea power alone. It was then realised that a land force was needed to support the project by suppressing the Turkish mobile artillery batteries. By the time all was ready the Turks were well aware and well prepared. Despite amazing heroics on the day of the landings only minor beachheads were achieved and over the succeeding 8 months little progress was made. Eventually the beachheads were evacuated in a series of successful ruses.
Despite Gallipoli rightly becoming a national source of pride to Australians and New Zealanders, far more British casualties were sustained, and these days the substantial French contribution is almost forgotten.
Detail :
His obituary was published in The Liverpool Echo 24th June 1915:
MATTHEWS,-On Admirality service at the West Coast of Africa, Sidney Herbert Matthews, Second-Lieutenant Engineer, R.N.R., special service squadron, dearly beloved husband of Ada Alice Matthews, 0f 5, Glover Street, Birkenhead, and fourth son of Mrs. Catherine Matthews, of 17, Exeter Road, Bootle.
His death is recorded in the Deaths at Sea register under S. H. Mathews.
Probate record: MATHEWS, Sydney Herbert of Glover Street, Birkenhead. Temporary Engineer, Royal Naval Reserve died 30th May 1915 having been killed whilst on active service with His Majesty's Forces at sea. Probate Chester 28th October to Ada Alice Mathews, widow and Elizabeth Jane Mathews, spinster. Effects £637 10s.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Marlborough No. 1620 E.C. | West Lancashire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
14th June 1907 | 2nd September 1907 | 3rd February 1908 |
Discrepancies (Require checks, clarity or further research) :
1. The records of United Grand Lodge show "Killed in Action" 22nd May 1915
2. The report from the Liverpool Echo suggests "Special Service" off the West Coast of Africa, but other sources show that Sydney was aboard SS Merion (HMSSV14), which was sunk by torpedo in the Dardenelles.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley