Name
John Wilfred (poss Wilfrid) Mather
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/08/1915
42
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 152 to 154.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin War Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
He was born in Oughtrington, Chester on the 3rd January 1873, the eldest son of the Rev. Frank Albert Mather and Jessie Caroline nee Clay of Highbury House, Hitchin. Educated in Repton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal lnniskilling Fusiliers and later promoted to Lieutenant. He resigned his commission in 1899. He then went farming in Canada.
He had married Rhoda Mary Lysons at Rowley, Derbyshire in September 1905.
Wartime Service
He volunteered into the Canadian Expeditionary Force on the outbreak of war in 1914 and came to the United Kingdom with the first contingent in October 1914. He was given a commission with the Loyals on the 17th December 1914.
John was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 28th January 1916) by General Sir Ian Hamilton for gallant and distinguished service in the field. He was still with the Loyals at the time of his death and in the 6th Battalion.
The Battalion left Avonmouth in the ‘Braemar Castle’ on the 17th June 1915 passing Gibraltar (23rd), arrived Malta (26th) and Alexandria (30th). They then sailed for Lemnos on the 2nd July, arrived Mudros (5th) and landed at Cape Helles via the 'River Clyde’ (6th) and camped in Gully Ravine. They were fighting for the rest of the month before returning to Mudros on the 31st July.
They sailed on the ‘Osmanieh’ on the 4th August landing at Anzac Cove on the 5th and to bivouacs in Victoria Gully. They marched along the beach to Reserve Gully below the Sphinx (7th) then to No. 3 Post. They took up positions at the foot of Chailak Dere on the 8th August and advanced to the Apex. With the 5th Battalion of the Wiltshires they relieved the New Zealanders after an attack on Chunuk Bair (9th). At daybreak on the 10th the Wiltshires were almost annihilated. The Commanding General (Hamilton) in his despatch mentioned that Captain Mather's Company inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, charging three times with the bayonet. Casualties in the period were eleven officers killed, other ranks eight killed, thirty wounded, 445missing believed killed.
On the night of the 9th August 1915, the 6th Battalion replaced the New Zealanders on Chunuk Bair and the Pinnacle in Gallipoli. The men were badly entrenched, exhausted, hungry, thirsty and lacking in leadership due to the high rate of officer casualties. The Turks launched a massive attack at 4.45am on the 10th August 1915 with murderous efficiency that overwhelmed the outposts and the main line of the 6th Battalion of the Loyals.
Additional Information
John is also commemorated on the family grave in Hitchin Cemetery
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
