Matthew Gardner

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 11/08/2016 - 14:42

First Name:

Matthew

Last Name:

Gardner

Date of Birth:

Monday, July 18, 1892

Mother's Name:

Mary Gardner nee Gibson

Father's Name:

James Gardner

Date Enlisted:

Saturday, February 20, 1915

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

19th Battalion

Company:

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

1914/1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Place of Death:

Wollongong, N.S.W.

Details:

Matthew Gardner (Service No 1190) was born in Durham, England and arrived in Australia with his family in 1912.

Soon after, in 1913, his mother died in Wollongong, N.S.W.

At enlistment Matthew was single, 23 years old, employed as a grocer, and lived in Wollongong.

He embarked from Sydney on HMAT A40 Ceramic with D Company, 19th Battalion, on 25th June 1915. After the troops arrived in Egypt Matthew was sent on to Gallipoli where he served from 21st August 1915 until the evacuation.

After Gallipoli Matthew was sent to France, arriving on 25th March 1916 and saw service on the Western Front with 19th Battalion until the war ended.

He was admitted to hospital sick in France from 21st January 1917 until 24th February. In July 1917 he was sent to hospital in England for treatment of trench fever and did not return to France until 20th February 1918.

After the war ended Matthew spent 3 months studying in England. On 19th May 1919 he married Eliza Scales and they returned to Australia in September 1919. He was discharged on 10th November 1919.

Matthew died in Wollongong in 1955.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, GARDNER M