Photo: Geordie at War Project
The headstone reads:-
In loving memory of
Sgt. Pilot Harry Matson
dearly loved elder son of Henry and Margaret Matson
who was killed in a flying accident
Dec.30th 1940 aged 22 years
His soul flew on
Also his brother
Alan. M. Matson
dearly loved husband of Lilian
and father of Helen
(Rest obscured by foliage)
Ray Cox has submitted the following:
Henry Havelock Matson was born April 6th, 1918 and was the eldest son of Henry Havelock Matson and his wife, Margaret (nee Macfarlane) of Potters Way, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead.
Henry, who like his father, was known to family and friends as Harry, had one younger brother, Alan (1919-1992), and attended Gateshead Grammar School from 1929. After leaving school, he began work as a railway clerk for the London and North East Railway at Manors Station in Newcastle, just to the east of the city's main Central station, and remained there till the outbreak of war.
He became a member of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was on a course at No. 14 Service Flying Training School at RAF Cranfield in Bedfordshire when he was involved in an accident on December 3, 1940. Harry was on a solo flight in an Airspeed Oxford when it was involved in a mid-air collision over Milton Keynes and although the other aircraft was able to land safely, Harry's plane was badly damaged and went into a spin before striking the ground and killing him instantly. He was 22 years of age. Although listed online as a Leading Aircraftman, Harry was actually a sergeant pilot and days before the accident had been commissioned, though not yet gazetted as an officer. He is buried in St. John's Cemetery, Gateshead Fell.
Harry Matson is remembered at Gateshead on G39.015 and G39.065
