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| | ~ Edward Sidney Matthews ~ |
In 1901 Edward was living at 1 Eleanor Terrace Sea View Road South Shoebury Essex, he was a boarder single age 19 and a general labourer.On the 12 December 1903 Edward married Elizabeth Dredger at Parish Church Plaistow and was living at 32 Lower Road Plaistow.
Elizabeth later became Elizabeth Bradley. |
At the outbreak of World War 1 Edward enlisted in the 3rd Battalion Essex Regiment in October 1914, Private Edward Matthews Service No 3/3435, conscription did not come in until 1916, so when Edward joined up in 1914 like all the other brave men he was a VOLUNTEER. |
| ~ The Western Front ~ |
On 23 June 1915 the Division took over a sector of the front line for the first time, at Ploegsteert Wood, relieving 46th (North MIdland) Division. 6th Queen's, 6th Buffs and 11th Middlesex were the units that first entered the trenches. By 15 July the Divisional front had extended south to reach east of Armentieres; the 12th was now holding 7000 yards. In just holding this relatively quiet sector, in July alone the Division suffered the loss of 7 officers and 64 men killed, 18 officers and 413 men wounded.| | ~ The Battle of Loos ~ |
On 26 September, after this battle had started, the Division was relieved by the 1st Canadian and 50th (Northumbrian) Divisions and moved towards the Loos front It arrived on 29 September and relieved outgoing units in the Gun Trench - Hulluch Quarries sector on the night of 30 September - 1 October. The Division commenced consolidating the position, under heavy artillery fire. The Officer Commanding, Major General Frederick Wing CB, was killed in action on 2 October 1915. His ADC, Lieutenant Christopher Tower DSO, was killed by the same shell.
On 8 October, the Division repelled a heavy German infantry attack. Five days later the Division took part in a large scale action to renew the offensive, now called the "Action of the Hohenzollern Redoubt". The Division succeeded in capturing Gun Trench and the south western face of the Hulluch Quarries. During this period at Loos, 117 officers and 3237 men were killed or wounded. By the end of 21 October the Division had been relieved and moved to Fouquieres-les-Bethune. It took over the Hohenzollern Redoubt front after a very short rest of five days and spent a cold, wet and miserable month here before being relieved on 15 November by 15th (Scottish) Division, whereupon it moved into reserve at Lillers.
On 13th November 1915 "The Times" reported 3/3435 Private Edward Matthews 9th Battalion Essex Regiment as wounded in action and suffered some considerable wounds, around 19th-20th October 1915.
Edward was posted back to the Essex Regiment depot to recover from wounds, and was sent home, whilst he was back home recovering Grandma Elizabeth became pregnant with their son James Douglas born 20 April 1917.
 | In 1917 after recovering, Edward had to return to France
and continue his duty with the 1/8th Kings Regiment (Liverpool Irish)
Private Edward Matthews service No 325001, |
| | ~ The Battle of Menim Road ~ |
By now, 1,295 guns were concentrated in the area, approximately one for every five yards of attack front. On 20 September at the battle of Menin Road, after a massive bombardment, the Allies attacked and managed to hold their objective of about 1,500 yards gained, despite heavy counter-attacks, suffering twenty-one thousand casualties. The Germans by this time had a semi-permanent front line, with very deep dugouts and concrete pillboxes, supported by artillery accurately ranged on no man's land.
 | The 1/8th Battalion Kings Regiment (Liverpool Irish) took part in The Battle of The Menim Road from 20th September 1917. |
 | This was part of the 1917 offensive the third battle of Ypres or 'Passchaendale', they were fighting in the Wieltje sector. | |
Sadly Edward was killed in action on 23 September 1917 so it is quite possible that he never saw his son James Douglas before he returned to France.
Click to view --> Sep 24 1917 letter
The above link is a more ledgible copy of the original letter to Elizabeth from the army Chaplain on the passing of Edward.
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Click here to view Edwards CWGC Click here to view Edwards Virtual Memoria  The three medals that Edward was awarded were The 1914-15 Star, The British War Medal 1914-20, The Victory Medal 1914-19 | | | | |
Edward was just age 35 when he gave his life; he left behind a widow who was just 37 and five young children whose ages were 13 years, 11 years, 7 years, 3 years, and just a couple of months, a very sad story indeed.
| ~ The Bradley connection ~ |
View Data
After Edward's death in 1917 another son was born to Grandma Elizabeth in 1920, Albert John Matthews was born on 1 June 1920 in West Ham, no fathers name was given on the birth certificate!
| Grandma Elizabeth did remarry in 1920, on 17 July 1920 in The Parish Church St Andrews Plaistow, she married William Bradley born 1875 who was the father of Lance Corporal Henry Bradley of the 1st Manchester Regiment,(known as Harry) | 1st Manchester Regiment | Henry married Aunt Rose Matthews, so we had two Matthews marrying two Bradleys, I would like to think that William was the father of Albert John Matthews and they got married a little over 1 month after he was born, but cannot confirm this. |  |
Grandma Elizabeth and William had 3 more children. In 1921 Alfred William Bradley born 25 June 1921 at 43 Beaufoy Road Plaistow West Ham, Doris Joyce Bradley born 8 June 1925 at 1 Ronald Ave West Ham, and Frederick William Bradley born 21 May 1927 at 1 Ronald Ave West Ham, this makes it the eight child that Grandma Elizabeth Matthews had.
Grandma Matthews also had twin babies with Grandad Matthews and they both died, a Girl Violet M Matthews was born in 1912, and the other child which there is no record for may have been stillborn and not registered.
| | | From right to left we have Grandma Elizabeth with her son Alfred Bradley and Wife Rene | Another pic of Grandma Elizabeth Matthews nee Bradley nee Dredger |
...to be continued
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