MATTHEWS, John

John Matthews was born in Lye and was probably a regular soldier in the Worcesters before 1914 and in the Reserve. He was living with his wife Alice at 38 Pedmore Road, Lye, at the start of the Great War and was called up to join the 2nd Battalion at Aldershot. They faced the German invasion at Mons, retreated to the Aisne and then moved to Ypres to repel the German forces advancing along the Menin Road. He could well have been at Gheluvelt at the end of October for the famous repulse of the German forces. In the Artois Spring attacks of 1915 the Worcesters were called on to lead the attack on Festubert on the 17th May. The night assault on the German trenches was a real setback and heavy losses of over 150 casualties were sustained. Corporal John Matthews was seriously injured and taken to the 6th Casualty Clearing Station at Merville where he died of wounds. He was 32 years of age and is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery (III F 6) and commemorated on the Lye and Wollescote and Lye church Memorials.