Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 25113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 578

The O.B.E. group of six to Major W. J. R. Matthews, Manchester Regiment, who earned his laurels in Italy as Deputy Assistant Director of Remounts

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Military Division, Officer's 1st Type (O.B.E.) breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (Captain W. J. R. Matthews. Manchester Regt.); 1914 Star, clasp (Capt: W. J. R. Matthews. Manch:R.); British War and Victory Medals (Major W. J. R. Matthews.), with M.I.D. oak leaves; Italy, Kingdom, War Cross, good very fine (6)

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919.

M.I.D. London Gazette 18 April 1918, 5 June 1919.

Italian War Cross London Gazette 21 August 1919.

William John Richardson Matthews was born in 1872, the son of William Matthews of Llangollen,
Denbighshire, Wales. Commissioned Second Lieutenant on 8 January 1890 with the 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the Manchester Regiment he transferred to the 3rd and 4th (Militia) Battalions as Lieutenant on 18 February 1892.

At some stage transferring to the 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment he was still serving with them in 1900. not long later Matthews was to enter the war in South Africa. A newspaper article in the Manchester Evening News relates:

‘The order for Captain W. J. R. Matthews of the Manchester Militia, to join the 9th Provisional Battalion at Colchester has been cancelled, and he proceeds to South Africa to join the 6th Battalion on active service.’

He resigned his commission in the Militia on 18 June 1904, being granted the Honorary rank of Major. That same year he married Violet Labouchere of Broome Hall, he later stood as a J.P. in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire.

On the outbreak of the Great War Matthews was recalled to service and entered the war in France with the rank of Captain on 10 October 1914. There he was to serve as a Staff Officer for the bulk of the conflict before returning to Britain to act as Assistant Embarkation Officer at Southampton from 1916-17.

Posted to Italy in 1917 Matthews acted as Deputy Assistant Director of Remounts there for the rest of the war, earning himself his O.B.E, Italian War Cross and two mentions for his sterling efforts. His medals were sent to him on 7 December 1920 at Admington Hall, Shipton-on-Stow, sold together with copied research.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Estimate

Starting price
£210