Matthew/ Maticen Hopkinson

First Name: 
Matthew/ Maticen
Last Name: 
Hopkinson
Date of Birth: 
Thursday, April 1, 1886
Mother's Name: 
Charlotte Hopkinson
Father's Name: 
Matthew Hopkinson
Date Enlisted: 
Monday, November 22, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
55th Battalion
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Details: 

Matthew Hopkinson (Service No 4144) was born in Derbyshire, England.

At enlistment, Matthew was single, 31 years old, worked as a coal miner, and lived at Scarborough, N.S.W.  He embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A67 Orsova with 19th Battalion, 10th Reinforcement on 11th March 1916.

After arriving in Egypt, he was transferred to 55th Battalion on 20th April 1916, and arrived in France with them on 28th June 1916, and taking part in the battle for Fromelle.

On 23rd September 1917 Matthew was wounded in action and evacuated to hospital in England for treatment of a gun shot wound to his left hand.  On 29th December 1917, while still in England, Matthew married Helen Dowle.

Matthew returned to Australia in March 1918 and was discharged, medically unfit, on 12th November 1918.

In September 1931, Matthew's 10 year old daughter, Hazel, was involved in an accident caused by an exploding detonator, and lost her left hand, with her right hand severely injured.  The family was living near Cessnock, N.S.W. at this time, where Matthew worked as a miner. 

Matthew died in 1957.

Note: some of Matthew's papers incorrectly show his first name as Maticen.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, HOPKINSON M 4144