Governor Matthews

Born 1 Mar 1905 - Died 23 Nov 1941

Service number: 7233 AWMM
Also known as: —
Armed force / branch: Army AWMM
Last rank: Corporal/Military AWMM 28 (Maori) Battalion, D Company AWMM
War: World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Governor Matthews — Headstone, Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt (photo B. Coutts, 2009) - This image may be subject to copyright

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Biographical information

Governer Matthews was the son of Hoani and Makaretta Rutha Matthews, of Karitane, Otago, New Zealand.

Corporal G. Matthews, MM; born Puketeraki, 1 Mar 1905; carpenter; killed in action 23 Nov 1941. (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p.64.)

'There was still some sporadic fire across the Mavroneri Gorge when D Company prepared to withdraw. Word was passed from man to man, mostly in Maori, to close in on the right and the platoons gathered at Company Headquarters. With the driving rain and complete darkness this took some time, and when at 8 p.m. the company was due to withdraw Lieutenant Logan had not arrived with 17 Platoon. It was nearly half an hour later before he reported with the information that Corporal Wipiti's section was missing.

The platoon had concentrated around the reserve section and a runner was sent to inform Corporal Wipiti. He returned to say he had not been able to find them in the darkness but had called out and got a reply and had delivered the message. After waiting some time without any appearance of the section, it was assumed that it had moved up a track that had led from behind the section through the reserve platoon area to Company Headquarters. It was not there and yells of ‘E Wipiti! Haere mai!’ were unanswered. It was almost an hour behind time when D Company, with Corporals Matthews and Tainui in the rear, Spraying the darkness with Bren bursts, climbed up the ridge in Indian file.

A Company's move out was unmolested, but on account of the darkness and rain and boggy track it was about midnight before the last of the men was through B Company's area, from where it will be remembered there was a track up to Battalion Headquarters. Captain Leaf was a tower of strength right through the night. He was a man of powerful physique and he heartened the men with jokes, helped those who slipped and fell to regain the track, and on occasion threatened dire punishment to any who showed signs of panic. Major Bertrand and Sergeant Vercoe checked the last of A Company through and then followed behind B Company.' (Source: Cody, J.F. 28 Maori Battalion. p. 64.) AWMM

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Governor Matthews