Lionel Matthews
Lionel Matthews | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Duke |
Born | Stepney, South Australia, Australia | 15 August 1912
Died | 2 March 1944 Kuching, Sarawak, Japanese-occupied Borneo | (aged 31)
Service/ | Australian Army |
Years of service | 1930–1944 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 27th Brigade |
Battles/wars |
|
Awards |
Lionel Colin Matthews,
Sent to
In July 1943, members of Matthews' organisation were betrayed, and he and others were arrested, beaten, tortured and starved by their Japanese captors. Matthews refused to provide any information on his organisation or its members to the
Early life and career
Lionel Colin Matthews was born in the
World War II
After the outbreak of World War II, Matthews was promoted to lieutenant on 18 January 1940.[2] He transferred from the Militia to the all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force (Second AIF) at Caulfield, Victoria, on 10 June and was allocated to the 8th Division Signals.[4] He was formally appointed as a lieutenant in the Second AIF on 1 July.[5] Matthews underwent training in Victoria and later in New South Wales, including a course at the Army School of Signals. The 8th Division Signals embarked aboard the converted ocean liner RMS Queen Mary for Singapore on 3 February 1941, arriving on 18 February.[6]
Malayan campaign
Matthews wore a clipped moustache, and was nicknamed "The Duke" because of his physical resemblance to
As the Japanese quickly advanced down the
Battle of Singapore
After the Malayan campaign, the 27th Brigade initially took part in the
Prisoner of war
Matthews was initially interned in the Changi prisoner-of-war camp on Singapore.[1] In May, captured elements of Malaya Command authorised the award of the Military Cross to Matthews for his actions at Gemas and on Singapore. The citation, which was not officially gazetted until 8 January 1946, read:[12][13]
During operations at Gemas this officer succeeded in maintaining cable communications between his Brigade HQ and units under heavy artillery and mortar fire and aerial bombardment, displaying a high standard of courage, energy and ability in doing so. Later during the operation on Singapore Island Capt Matthews succeeded in laying a cable over ground strongly patrolled by the enemy and thus restoring communication between his Divisional HQ and the HQ of a Brigade at a critical period.
In July, "B" Force, consisting of nearly 1,500 Australian
By September 1942, Matthews and Wells had consolidated and expanded their organisation. All intelligence gathered was passed to Matthews and collated. He managed to make contact with Filipino resistance fighters operating on the Sulu Archipelago in the south-west Philippines, who assisted Australian POWs to escape. The Japanese transferred the civilian internees from Berhala Island to the Batu Lintang camp near Kuching in Sarawak in January 1943.[1][2] Matthews had gained the trust of the Governor of North Borneo, Robert Smith, who had been interned nearby and, when the civilian internees departed he was placed in effective command of the British North Borneo Constabulary despite being a POW. While he had several opportunities to escape, Matthews decided to remain with his fellow POWs and continue running his covert organisation at great risk to himself.[15] He made plans to rise up against the Japanese if the Allies landed in Borneo, and initiated the building of a radio transmitter.[1][2]
In July 1943, four Chinese members of Matthews' intelligence network were betrayed to the Japanese. Tortured, they confessed to providing radio parts. The Japanese then arrested Matthews, Wells, Taylor and other members of the organisation. They were beaten, tortured and starved as part of their interrogation, then transported to Kuching. Matthews was sentenced to death, along with two members of the British North Borneo Constabulary and six other Asians. Throughout their confinement, Matthews had encouraged the other suspects, and had refused to divulge any information about their activities. Matthews was executed by a firing squad on 2 March 1944, refusing the offer of a blindfold.[1][2]
As well as the Military Cross, he was entitled to the 1939–1945 Star, the Pacific Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal 1939–1945, and the Australia Service Medal 1939–1945.[16] Matthews' body was later exhumed and reinterred in the Labuan War Cemetery.[17] Matthews' older brother Geoffrey commanded the 9th Battalion in the latter stages of World War II, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[1][18]
George Cross
After the war, on 25 November 1947, Matthews was posthumously awarded the George Cross for his actions while a POW.[19][20] The George Cross was the highest award for extraordinary acts of gallantry away from the field of battle that could be awarded to a member of the Australian armed forces at the time.[21] The citation read:[19][20]
Captain Matthews was a prisoner of war held by the Japanese in Sandakan, Borneo between August 1942 and March 1944.
During this period although in captivity he directed personally an underground intelligence organization. By sheer determination and organization he arranged through native contacts for the delivery of sorely needed medical supplies, food and money into the camp – factors which not only kept up the morale and courage of the prisoners but undoubtedly saved many lives.
He was instrumental in arranging a radio link with the outside world and was able to send weekly news bulletins to the civil internees on Berhala Island. He was also responsible for arranging for the delivery of fire arms to a secret rendezvous for future use.
Captain Matthews gained the confidence of H.E. the Governor of British North Borneo – himself an internee in that area – and was appointed to Command (although still a PW) the North British Armed Constabulary. At great danger he organised that body in readiness for a rising against the Japanese and also organised a movement amongst the loyal native population in Sandakan for a similar purpose. He gained contact with the Guerrilla Forces in the Philippines and successfully organised escape parties. His ultimate object was to link up with outside forces and to stage eventually a resistance movement and insurrection at the first opportunity.
These activities of Captain Matthews were carried out at the greatest peril to himself at all times. His contact with the natives was on a doubtful basis and he was in constant danger of betrayal and death. He accepted these risks fearlessly and showed the greatest courage and enterprise, although beaten and tortured by the Japanese.
He was in a position where he could have escaped on numerous occasions by means of the help of an organisation set up by the Chinese but he declined, electing to remain where his efforts could alleviate the sufferings of his fellow prisoners.
He displayed the greatest gallantry in circumstances of the gravest danger. His leadership conduct, unflagging optimism and imperturbability were an inspiration to all closely associated with him in the resistance organisation and to his fellow prisoners.
After his arrest by the Kempei Tai Capt. Matthews showed courage of the highest order. He steadfastly refused to make admissions under brutal torture, beatings and starvation to implicate or endanger the lives of his associates. His conduct at all times was that of a very brave and courageous gentleman and he worthily upheld the highest tradition of an Australian Officer.
— The London Gazette 25 November 1947
Matthews' Military Cross was received by his nine-year-old son, David, from the
Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Cowley 2000.
- ^ a b c d e f g Staunton 2005, p. 315.
- ^ National Archives 2019, p. 23.
- ^ National Archives 2019, pp. 1–2.
- ^ a b National Archives 2019, p. 4.
- ^ National Archives 2019, p. 5.
- ^ Morgan 2013, p. 6.
- ^ a b c d McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2110.
- ^ a b Morgan 2013, p. 11.
- ^ a b c Morgan 2013, p. 12.
- ^ Wigmore 1957, p. 333.
- ^ National Archives 2019, p. 6.
- ^ The London Gazette 8 January 1946.
- ^ a b c The News 1 December 1947.
- ^ a b Australian War Memorial 2019a.
- ^ National Archives 2019, p. 18.
- ^ Commonwealth War Graves Commission 2019.
- ^ Australian War Memorial 2019b.
- ^ a b The London Gazette 25 November 1947.
- ^ a b National Archives 2019, pp. 34–36.
- ^ Blanch 2020, p. viii.
- ^ Staunton 2005, p. 316.
References
- "9th Australian Infantry Battalion". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- Blanch, Craig (2020). For Gallantry: Australians Awarded the George Cross & the Cross of Valour. Sydney: New South Publishing. ISBN 978-1-74223-682-7.
- "Casualty Details – Lionel Matthews". Labuan War Cemetery. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- Cowley, R. E. (2000). "Matthews, Lionel Colin (1912–1944)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 15. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian National University. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- "George Cross: Captain L C Matthews, 8 Division Signals". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
- ISBN 978-1-925675-146.
- Morgan, Joseph (2013). "A Burning Legacy: The Broken 8th Division". Sabretache. LIV (3, September). Military Historical Society of Australia: 4–14. ISSN 0048-8933.
- "NAA: B883, VX24597". National Archives of Australia. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- "No. 37425". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1946. p. 380.
- "No. 38134". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 November 1947. p. 1.
- "Passing By". The News. Vol. 49, no. 7, 590. Adelaide, South Australia. 1 December 1947. p. 2. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- Staunton, Anthony (2005). Victoria Cross: Australia's Finest and the Battles They Fought. Prahran, Victoria: Hardie Grant. ISBN 978-1-74273-486-6.
- OCLC 3134219.
Further reading
- Matthews, David (Lionel Matthews' son) (2008). The Duke: A Hero's Hero at Sandakan. Captain Lionel Matthews GC, MC. West Lakes, South Australia: Seaview Press. ISBN 978-1-74008-486-4.