Harold Halford Matthews (1877 - 1940)

Born 22 May 1877 in Naunton, Gloucestershire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Esther Ann (Riley) Matthews — married 7 Oct 1903 in Nicola, British Columbia, Canada

Husband of Helen Tisdale (LeSueur) Matthews — married 29 Apr 1926 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Died 12 May 1940 at age 62 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

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MGen Harold Matthews was Wounded in Action during World War I.

Biography

Harold was born in 1877. Harold Matthews ... He passed away in 1940. ^[1]

Obituary:

MONDAY. MAY 13, 1940.

One of the Dominion's most distinguished soldiers.
Major General Harold Halford Matthews, C.M.G, D.S.O., Adjutant General of Canada since August 15, 1938, died on Sunday in his 64th year. He was on sick leave from his official duties.
News of his death will be heard with profound regret by troops of the Canadian Active Service Force in Canada and England, as well as by the Non-Permanent Active Militia with whom he had always been in the closest contact. Graduates of the Royal Military College of Canada also held him In deep regard as he at one time was Commandant of the College Ardent Horseman. General Matthews was extremely fond of horses and at one time never felt more at home than in the saddle.
He had a lovable disposition and an old-fashioned sense of courtesy which was apparent at all times, though combined with these characteristics was a keen sense of discipline. In his quiet, unobtrusive way he accomplished much towards making the Canadian Army efficient. His friends believe that the train of over-work incident to war preparation and mobilization did much to undermine his health. He was granted four months sick leave, part of which he spent in Florida, but was finally compelled to enter hospital in Ottawa. In convalescence he returned home, but recently suffered a relapse which culminated in his death at -his residence, 433 Daly avenue, Sunday.
Born in England.
Major General Matthews was born at Lower Harford. Gloucestershire, England, in 1877. He was educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, and came to Vancouver in 1894. and later went to Nicolai Valley, where he was cattle ranching until 1914.
He received his first appointment as a provisional lieutenant in the British Columbia Horse, Non-Permanent Active Militia, in April, 1910, and rose through 'the various ranks to 2nd in command of his regiment in March, 1914. He proceeded oversea with the 8th Infantry Battalion on the 22nd September, 1914, and served in France and Belgium with his unit until wounded on the 26th April, 1915. General Matthews returned to the 8th Battalion in France on the 27th September, 1915, and on the 28th September, 1915, was appointed Officer Commanding, 8th Battalion. This appointment he held until he was wounded a second time on the 14th June, 1916. Promotion to the rank of colonel came while he was in command of the Canadian troops, Hastings, England. He returned to France, and was appointed to Headquarters, 1st Canadian Division, as General Staff Officer, and continued in this appointment during the march to the Rhine.
Major General in 1938.
He was appointed to a commission in the Royal Canadian Machine Gun Brigade in January 1921, on a reconstitution of the Permanent Active Militia, and transferred to the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) in September, 1923. Next step up in rank came when he was made a temporary Brigadier on the 27th November 1932. On December 9, 1938 he became a Major General.
General Matthews formerly held the appointments of Assistant Director of Military Intelligence and Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at National Defense Headquarters, Ottawa. District Officer Commanding, Military District No. 13, Calgary, Alberta, Commandant of the Royal Military College of Canada. Kingston, Ontario, and received the appointment as Adjutant General 'on the 15th August, 1938. For valuable services rendered during the Great War, he was made a Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, received the Distinguished Service Order, and on four occasions was Mentioned in Dispatches. He also received the Croix de Guerre (Belgium).
General Matthews is survived by his widow, the former Helen Lesueur. of Ottawa, whom he married in 1926, one son, David, and three sisters. Miss K. S. Matthews, of London, Ont.; Mrs. A. D. Hardie, of Oliver, B.C., and Mrs. William Cato, of Auckland, New Zealand, by a stepbrother, Mr. Marmaduke Matthews, of Wellington, N.Z., and a stepsister, Mrs. H. P. Smith, of Auckland, N.Z. Full military honors will be accorded when the funeral takes place from All Saints Church, Ottawa, at 2.30 p.m., Tuesday. The interment will take place at Beechwood cemetery. George H. Rogers, Limited is looking after the funeral arrangements.
Chief's Tribute.
Major General T. V. Anderson, D.S.O., Chief of the General Staff, was deeply grieved to hear of General Matthew's death on Sunday. "General Matthews had been one of my closest friends since the First Great War. We are going to greatly miss his advice and help at National Defense Headquarters. He was a man with a most lovable character, who was friendly with people and in turn inspired their friendship. In France and Belgium he was a first class fighting man and in peace-time he was also a first-rate officer. Few officers in either peace or war were more efficient."^[2]

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Sources

1. ↑ Information entered by Brett Rutherford, Tuesday, January 20, 2015. Replace this citation if there is another source.
2. ↑ The Ottawa Journal of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada May 13, 1940, pg 15

• Find A Grave Memorial# 130452598
• Canadian Virtual War Memorial
• UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947 , Peter Singlehurst; The War Dead of the Commonwealth Cemeteries in Ontario - 1
• Canada, War Graves Registers (Circumstances of Casualty), 1914-1948, Library and Archives Canada; War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death; Box: 299
• Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, Archives of Ontario; Series: MS932; Reel: 756
• British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency. British Columbia, Canada. British Columbia Vital Statistics Agency: P.O. Box 9657, Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC V8W 9P3. Name: Esther Anne Riley, Gender: Female, Spouse Name: Harold H Matthews, Spouse Gender: Male, Marriage Date: 7 Oct 1903, Marriage Location: Nicola Lake, Registration Number: 1903-09-177868, BCA Number: B11388, GSU Number: 1984109
• 1881 England Census, Class: RG11; Piece: 1519; Folio: 79; Page: 8; GSU roll: 1341366
• 1891 England Census, Class: RG12; Piece: 1177; Folio: 26; Page: 15; GSU roll: 6096287
• 1911 Census of Canada, Year: 1911; Census Place: 61 - Merritt, Nicola, Middlesboro, Collettville, Yale and Cariboo, British Columbia; Page: 16; Family No: 10