John N. Matthews
CWGC headstone
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Naisbitt Matthews was born February 26th 1895 in Spennymoor, County Durham. His father Obadiah Matthews, was born May 17th 1864 in Biggleswade, Wrestlingworth, Bedfordshire and had migrated north, with his parents and siblings by 1881. They were living at 12 Edward Street, Spennymoor, Obadiah was only 16 years old and already working as a miner. He later met and married Eleanor (Ellen) Gibson (1867), a native of Spennymoor, September 6th 1884. They had 15 children, 12 of whom survived, 8 boys and 4 girls, firstly living at Upper Church Street, Tudhoe and in 1911 at 5 Newton Street, Dean Banks, Ferryhill, John, only 16 at the time, was already employed below ground at Chilton Colliery as an incline breaker.
John enlisted in Ferryhill as Private 7537, and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, however, during his service he was transferred and reassigned as Private 202954 1st/4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, (ref. C.W.G.C.), this may well have coincided with the Battalion becoming part of the 150th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division. He entered the theatre of war October 13th 1915. The Battalion was involved in the front line at Armentieres until late December when it relieved the 5th D. L. I. at Armagh Wood just after Christmas. They sustained a good deal of prolonged shelling from the enemy until they in turn were relieved by the D. L. I. In the following months they fought at Hill 60 and Kemmel until, in August 1916, they were posted to the Somme in training for the battle of Flers-Courcelette-Martinpuich, which lasted until November 1916. 1917 began with a move to the left flank of the French Sector and front line duty at Belley. April 1917 the Battalion moved to Arras arriving on the 12th, in harsh weather. The battle had already begun on the 9th and the German front line was initially shattered as the Allies advanced to the high ground of Vimy Ridge, taken by the Canadians. The battle was halted, a bad tactical decision on the part of the Allies, which gave time to the Germans to consolidate. When it recommenced on the 23rd the Allied losses were heavy, even more so than those on the Somme. April 23rd 1917 Private 202954 John (Jack) Naisbitt Matthews was killed in action and in a letter, from his C. O, to his family, they were informed as to the circumstances. The letter began with 2nd Lieut. Lamb expressing his deep regret in having to inform her, (his mother Ellen), of his death and assuring her that he died, “as a Britisher should”. He went on to explain that, “two of them got 2 Germans in a corner. They (the Germans) surrendered. Jack’s pal wanted to kill them but Jack said, “NO”. On the way back one of them shot Jack dead”. He assured her that his death was, “sudden and he was laid to rest as befits a soldier”. He closed, “with deepest sympathy to you and to Miss Kile”. He must have been referring to John’s sweetheart. John is interred at Wancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, grave I. B. 13. and was awarded the 1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, sent to his parents at 9, 4th Cross Street, Ferryhill. He was 22 years old and unmarried. Private Matthews’s headstone bears the word, MIZPAH, from Genesis 31:49. “The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.” Mizpah jewellery became very popular particularly during WW2.
Whilst in the trenches John mentioned in a letter to his mother that it had been some time that he had not seen or heard from his elder brother, Alexander Matthews, who had enlisted in the North Lancashire Regiment. Alexander was Acting Corporal, having been transferred to the Royal Engineers as 273417. He was born June 10th 1887 in Spennymoor and had married Suzannah Kelly in 1910. Prior to the war they already had two children Mary Ellen born 1910 and Alexander Gibson born 1912. Upon his return his wife gave birth to their third child Lily in 1919. Alexander Matthews died in County Durham, 1961.
Simeon Matthews born August 5th 1896 in Spennymoor joined the Coldstream Guards as Guardsman 24085 December 10th 1915 and was assigned to the army reserve the following day. It was not until April 14th 1918 that he was mobilised and sent to Windsor where he remained for the next 7 months. His discharge was approved December 7th and finalised December 14th 1918 under King’s regulations 392 (XXVa), surplus to military requirements. Whilst a reservist he married Phoebe Ann Brimley October 10th 1917, they had a son Frederick born 1918. Simeon Matthews died March 1974 in Teeside.
William Nesbitt Matthews was born June 14th 1898 in Spennymoor and joined the Coldstream Guards, June 14th 1916. He was discharged October 26th 1918 under King’s regulations 392 (XVI), physically unfit. He was assigned Silver badge number 3124666, first issued in September 1916. William received a pension which expired February 11th 1919, he appealed against this suspension but lost his case March 23rd 1920. William Nesbitt Matthews died April 25th 1982 in Cleveland, North Yorkshire.
Obadiah Mathews died November 2nd 1936 and his wife, Ellen, April 16th 1937, in Ferryhill, County Durham.
in God's safe keeping Rest in Peace
John Naisbitt Matthews is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 and at Ferryhill Station onF43.01
