Athol's friends - Rupert Matthews and others

From time to time Athol mentions in his letters various friends and acquaintances he comes across during the Gallipoli campaign. One such acquaintance was Rupert Matthews. I write a little of his story below.

The Victorian 2nd Brigade (Battalions 5,6,7 and 8) was comprised of men mainly from Melbourne in the 5th and 6th Battalions and those from regional Victoria in the 7th and 8th Battalions. Among these men in the 2nd Brigade were about 60 Old Wesley Collegians (OWs). An important account of their individual histories can be found in Philip J. Powell's 'Come On Lads - Old Wesley Collegians and the Gallipoli Campaign', published March 2015. The book is also available online
http://www.wesleycollege.net/Our-Community/Archives-and-Collections.aspx

One of these Old Wesley men was Rupert MacKay Tyson Matthews. He was born in Bourke NSW in 1887. This is interesting in itself as Bourke, NSW, would have been a very remote outpost in western NSW in those days. Rupert was about 6 years older than Athol. His age at enlistment was 27 years and 1 month on 17 August 1914, and Athol a little over 20. Rupert enlisted in the 5th Battalion on the same day and place (Prahran) as Athol. They would have marched out to the Broadmeadows camp and spent the next few months training together. They had both been in their volunteer cadet corps at their schools.

At the time of his enlistment Rupert had completed his law studies at Melbourne University and was proceeding with his articles at a Melbourne law firm.

Prior to studying law, Rupert attended Wesley College with his two brothers. He was a keen sportsman and a prefect at Wesley College in his final year, 1906. He played in the Aussie Rules football team and was a member of the Athetics team. Rupert also played Aussie Rules football for Melbourne University from 1909-1911. Like Rupert, Athol was keen at his sports and perhaps they played in the games frequently organised at the Broadmeadows camp in 1914 and later at Lemnos in September 1915. Athol also played Aussie rules football, Lacrosse (for MGS and MCC) and was a prefect.

In the early days of August 1914, many of the boys from private schools such as Wesley College (and Melbourne Grammar where Athol attended) were allocated to 'F' company which became known as the Public Schools Company. Both men were embarked on HMAT Orvieto and travelled from Melbourne via Albany, and Colombo to Egypt.

In the re-organisation of the 1st AIF at the Mena Camp, Egypt, in early 1915 these men were mostly transferred to the new 'D' company under the leadership of Captain Harry Carter (OW, 1904). Captain Carter is referred to Athol's letter dated 13 August 1915. Both Athol and Rupert were moved from 'F' company to the new 'D' Company.

We know that Rupert and Athol both embarked on the HMAT Novian which took the 5th Battalion from Egypt to Lemnos in early 1915. It can be assumed that they both took part in the historic landings at Anzac Cove on 25th April 1915. However, it is also possible that Rupert was retained on Lemnos either ill or in order to assist with the logistics and support of the early stages of the campaign on the Peninsular. A contemporary account notes Rupert may have arrived on the Gallipoli peninsular as late as June 1915. In a postcard sent home on 19 June by a Sergeant Stephen J. Sweetland he says that he (Sweetland) 'is camped in the same regiment as 'Rajah' Paschal, Flockart, Cyril Marsh and Kent (all OW).....Further along the beach are Bob Lewis, Lester Kelly, Rup. Matthews. The latter has just arrived, and carried a budding black beard.' [P Powell, 'Come on Lads', p.21]. However, it is not known where he arrived from - perhaps elsewhere on the Peninsular rather than from Lemnos or another place.

In a letter dated 24 August 1915 (see earlier blog post) Athol refers to a photograph which depicts himself and some friends riding camels in Egypt back in 1915. Athol's comments on this photograph, which was published in a local Melbourne newspaper, (which unfortunately is not in my collection) says:

The camel group was, I think Jack Melom, Rupert Matthews, Keith McIlwraith and I think Sperry Hill. Melom is missing, McIlwraith killed, Rupert Matthews has a commission in the 4th Battalion 

Rupert Matthews was in 'D' company of the 5th Battalion until early August 1915. He held the rank of Private on 5th August. On the next day, 6th August, he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to the 4th Battalion. After this transfer he was no longer with his comrades in the 2nd Brigade. This is significant as it was decided that the 2nd Brigade would not be the first to 'go over the top' during the Battle of Lone Pine but would be in the first set of reserve trenches. Rupert was now with the 1st Brigade (NSW troops) and they were in the first wave to attack the enemy at Lone Pine. He was no longer with the men with whom he had built friendships since August 1914 and before.

Rupert Matthews was in the first line of troops which attacked the Turkish Lone Pine trenches on 6 August 1915. He managed to get across no-man's land unscathed that evening. He and 12 other men were cut-off in one of those trenches. Rupert found himself in charge of this small group and directed the defenses of this section of captured trenches. They stayed in that location for the next 72 hours. Athol's company were the men sent to relieve them on 8-9 August.

As was common in that environment, Rupert succumbed to dysentery and was evacuated to Lemnos in late September 1915. Athol too suffered from 'enteritis' in September and was admitted to the hospital on Lemnos at about the same time. They were both in Egypt together after the evacuation of the Anzac forces from Turkey in late 1915.

In March 1916 Rupert was sent to France. Athol never went to France and so the two men would not have seen each other after March 1916.

Rupert was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1916 and later the same year he was awarded the Military Cross at Pozieres. The citation reads:

 'For conspicuous gallantry during operations. He continued to organize his defences during a heavy bombardment which caused many casualties. He himself was wounded in the face, but stuck to his duty until he collapsed and was ordered back'.

A report in the Melbourne 'Argus' newspaper on 22 June 1918, p.17 states that Rupert was wounded again on 5 April 1918 but was soon sent back to the front. Later in June 1918 he was wounded yet again. This time it was necessary to send him back to England to be treated for gunshot wounds and gas.
 Rupert survived the war and for a while it is believed that he practiced as a lawyer. In 1924 he married Pauline Clapin (second daughter of Mr and Mrs F L Clapin of Malvern, Melbourne), at Christ Church, South Yarra. The Melbourne 'Argus' goes on to record (in its issue dated Sat 15 March 1924) that they made their home outside Hay, NSW, where Rupert had a station 'Narrawong'.

The 'Argus' lists Mr Fred Knight as one of the guests at the wedding. I actually met this grand old man in 1981. He was a school friend of the Athol and his three brothers and in particular of A. P Adams, my grandfather. It is interesting to note that Fred knew all the people in this story. Fred was also a member of the 1st AIF. I mention Fred Knight in my blog at: http://notmentionedindispatches.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/glimpse-of-school-boy.html

 It appears that Rupert and his wife had a daughter on 19 June 1925 (according to the Melbourne 'Argus', 22 June 1925) and at that time the family were still at 'Narrawong', Hay, NSW.

Rupert Matthews MC died on 21 February 1966.

Rupert had two younger brothers, Bertie and Roy who both served in the 1st AIF.
I have not been able to find any photos of any of the Matthews boys.
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I wish to acknowledge:

• Philip J. Powell who kindly provided a copy of his book 'Come on Lads' which gives detailed accounts of Old Wesley Collegians during the Gallipoli Campaign and
• Margot Vaughan, Associate Curator of Collections, Wesley College, Melbourne. www.wesleycollege.net