Shields Gazette Thursday 11/11/1915

CWGC Headstone

Medal Index Card

Photo : SS Maritime Cawdor Castle

Photo from the Michelin Guide to Ypres 1919

Ralph Reed Burdon Mather was born on the 16th August 1894 at his grandparents’ home in 49 Hedley Street, South Shields; and was baptised on the 9th September 1894 at St Hilda's Church. At the time his parents weren’t married and Isabel (Isabella) is living with her parents Gibson Mather and Isabella Mary nee Watson.

The following year, Isabel nee Mather, and Ralph John Reed Burdon, were married on the 31st August 1895 at St. Mark’s Church, South Shields. Isabel [Isabella], was born on the 15th May 1875 and died March 1948; and Ralph was born on the 3rd February 1873, baptised on the 2nd March 1873, at St Stephen Church, and died March 1952.

After their marriage there were a number of additions to the family, making Ralph the eldest son of seven children; his brothers and sisters were: Ada [born 1896, died 1970]; Matthew [born 1897, died 1966]: Isabel Mather [born 1899, died 1937]; Gibson Mather [born 1903, died 1995], Joseph Thomas Mather Burdon, [born 28th April 1905, died 14th July 1979] and Alice May [born 1908, died 1986].

In 1901 Ralph was residing at 49 Hedley Street, with his maternal grandparents, Gibson and Isabella Mather. Also living with them are his mother Isabel, two of his sisters and a brother, Ada, Matthew, and Isabel. His Grandfather, Gibson, was working as a Mate on the Tyne Ferry that year.

Sadly, Ralph’s maternal Grandfather died in 1906, and when the 1911 census was held the family are found residing at 27 Raglan Street, South Shields. Also living there is his mother Isabel, his grandmother Isabella, now a widow, and his three brothers and three sisters: Mathew, Isabel Mather, Gibson Mather, Joseph Thomas, Alice May and Ada. His sister Ada, now 14, is working as a Machinist and bringing in a salary; and Ralph, now 16, is working as a Screener at the colliery above ground, so would have had a good wage and helped with the family expenses.

His maternal grandparents had been a major part of Ralph’s life; and the loss of his Grandfather, Gibson Mather, [born 1st May 1840, died June 1906], and his Grandmother, Isabella Mary Watson, [born 3rd September 1849, died January 1912] would have been a huge loss for the family. They had married on 27th January 1861 at St. Hilda's Church in South Shields, and not long after, their first child Joseph came along [born 1861, died 1897]; followed by James Taylor [born 1863]; Gibson [born 1864, died 1939]; Sarah Isabell [born 1867]; William Watson [born 1869, died 1947]; Thomas [born 1871]; Margaret [born 1879]; Mary [born 1881] and Isabel [born 1875, died 1948].

His paternal grandparents were Matthew Burdon, [born 1831, died 1894], and Elizabeth Hayton (nee Evans), [born 25th January 1832, died 1910] and were married on 27th December 1851 at St Hilda’s Church, South Shields. They had 12 children in total: Anne Maria [born 1852, died 1905]; Robert Hayton [born 1854, died 1905]; Mathew [born 1856, died 1925]; John Evans [born 1858, died 1924]; Charlotte Dobson [born 1859, died 1872]; Anthony Dobson [born 1861, died 1893]; Daniel Thompson Osborne [born 1863, died 1906]; Ada [born 1864]; Mary Jane [born 1867, died 1927]; Thomas [born 1868, died 1873]; William Harris [born 1874, died 1958] and Ralph John Reed [born 1873, died 1952].

Ralph Reed Burdon Mather was employed by the Whitburn/Marsden Colliery.

Ralph Reed Burdon Mather enlisted into the 3rd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) in October 1914, and was given the service number 3/9055 and the rank of private.

3rd (Reserve) Battalion. In August 1914, it was in York. A training unit, it remained in the UK throughout the war. Moved in August 1914 to Whitley Bay and played a part as the Tyne Garrison.

Ralph was transferred to the 1st Battalion, the Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) and was sent to France and Flanders on the 27th January 1915.

The 1st Battalion were in the 6th Division, of which the 18th Brigade was one of the brigades within this Division.

On the 7th August the 1st Battalion left Lichfield for Dunfermline, which they reached on the 8th August. On the 13th August the 18th Infantry Brigade entrained for Cambridge where they were ordered to concentrate.

They sailed at 6.15am on the Cawdor Castle ship number 114823, for St Nazaire which they arrived on the 10th September 1914. ['Cawdor Castle SS was a British Cargo Steamer of 6,243 tons built in 1902 by Barclay Curle & Company, Glasgow, Yard No 429 for the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, London. She was powered by a steam triple expansion engine of 650nhp. On the 30th July 1926 she ran aground in Conception Bay whilst heading for Mauritius from London with a cargo of coal'].

The SS Cawdor Castle was used as a troop ship in the great war of 1914-18. part of the B.E.F which included both the East and West Yorkshire Regiments embarked in SS Cawdor Castle at Southampton 8th Sept 1914 and sailed for Saint Nazaire, France.The ship arrived at Saint Nazaire the following morning where the troops disembarked and the equipment and vehicles were unloaded. The crossing was calm and there was only minimal damage done to the vehicles and wagons etc.

Source : EU Wreck Website.

The 1st West Yorkshires were billeted in Crupet in September 1914.

The 1st Battalion were in the Ypres Salient, with three companies in support on the Canal Bank and one company in the Potijze Defended Post.

In October the 16th Brigade were positioned in the Hooge trenches, in the War Diary the Battalion were relieved by the Queen's Westminster at about 9.30pm. There was one killed and three wounded on this day in the West Yorks War Diary and Ralph was that only casualty to the battalion that day.

There was a letter written by Private M. Bell to the friends of Private Mather : Dear Friends - It is with much sorrow and regret I sit and write these few line to you, giving full account of your son's sad death. It was on October 19th that your son happened his sad mishap. Things had not been serene for a few days before. We had lost a lot of good, brave men, and your son was one. Never was a lad liked more by his comrades. He was always a lad that never feared death, and would volunteer for anything that was of the utmost value out here on this job. We depend upon men like your son. He was always respected here by his comrades, especially when there was anything coming off. He saw a bit of fighting in the nine months he was out here, and got through a few bombardments all right. Only a few days before we were bombarded awfully by the Hun's artillery, and we lost a good few, but most of them were wounded. Your son got through it alright, because I was talking to him the day after. I never saw poor Ralph any more. The news was passed down to me that he had been killed. I nearly went mad when I got to know. Then I went and inquired about it, and all the boys told me he had got killed with a bullet. I saw the little cross that was made for him, and so it was 'Private Mathers' his number, and the name of the place where he was killed. I am sure they put him to his last resting place, where it is always peaceful, as well as ever anybody could wish to be buried. But, cheer up, he had not much pain. He was a soldier all through and died a hero. He did his duty, which was needed badly here, and he couldn't do more. Here I will close, with deepest sympathy. From his sorrowful old chum, Private Matthew Bell

With thanks to : Great Liners

Ralph Reed Burdon Mather is not remembered on a North East War Memorial

Photos of Hooge
Hooge Crater Museum
Hooge WW1 Battlefield
The CWGC entry for Private Mather