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2nd Lieutenant Robert Arthur Cecil MATHEWS
A Company, 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment Date of birth: 14th August 1896 Date of death: 18th October 1916 Killed in action aged 20 Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 6C
Robert Arthur Cecil Mathews was born at The Rectory, Great Warley in Essex on the 14th of August 1896 the second son of the Reverend John Herbert Mathews and Lydia Edith (nee Wahab) Mathews later of 14 Park Crescent, Worthing. He was educated at Miss Marshall's School in Worthing and at Lancing College where he was in Heads House from September 1910 to April 1914. On the 11th of March 1911 he suffered an accident which injured his left eye and in the following August it had to be removed. Despite this handicap he played a full part both in sport and academically and was a member of the Football XI in 1913/14 specifically distinguishing himself in the match against Brighton College in 1913. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps throughout his time at the College. Following the outbreak of war he enlisted at Portsmouth as Private 1692 in the Royal Army Medical Corps on the 12th of August 1914, believing that his poor sight would prevent him from taking a combat role. He underwent a medical examination on the same day where it was recorded that he was five feet seven and a half inches tall and that he weighed 145lbs. It was also recorded that he has a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He was posted to the 5th Southern General Hospital, Fawcett Road, Southsea for training on the same day. He applied for the commission in the 8th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment on the 29th of November 1914 in an application which was supported by the Reverend Bowlby, Headmaster of Lancing College. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Battalion on the 15th of December 1914. In July 1915 he was transferred to the 10th Battalion and on the 20th of October he transferred again to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion. On the 18th of March 1916 he went out to France where he was attached to the 1st Battalion of his regiment. On the 16th of October 1916 the 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment moved into trenches to the east of Guillemont and on the 17th they moved into the front line at Les Boeufs. Their objective for the following day was the capture and consolidation of the enemy held positions of "Rainy" and "Dewdrop" trenches. At 3.40am on the morning of the 18th of October 1916, following a brief barrage from the British artillery, A and C Companies began the advance in extended order on a 225 yard front in the dark and in pouring rain through a "vast lake of mud". They came under murderous fire with those who were not shot down taking cover in the shell holes where some of the wounded drowned. The survivors were rounded up by the Germans at daybreak. All the officers in the leading two companies were lost and total casualties for the attack was three hundred and seventy three men of all ranks. At first Robert Mathews was reported missing but a letter from an officer who buried him confirmed his death. His father received the following telegram dated the 4th of December 1916: - "Deeply regret to inform you that 2nd Lt R.A.C. Mathews East Lancs. Regt previously reported missing 18 Oct is now reported killed in action on or about that date. The Army Council express their sympathy." His brother, Lieutenant Thomas Hugh Mathews, 1st Battalion East Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action on the 2nd of November 1914. His father applied for his medals in September 1920.

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