Name
Herbert Gerard Mathieson
10 Oct 1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/03/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
3rd (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ROYAL IRISH RIFLES GRAVEYARD, LAVENTIE
III. D. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Aldenham School Memorial, Aldenham
Pre War
Herbert Gerard Mathieson was born on 10 Mar 1888 in Hendon, London to Gerard John Mathieson (Wholesale Stationer and Printer) and Frances Sarah (nee Johnstone).
Educated at Aldenham School, he went on to join the London Regiment (Territorial). The demands of his business necessitated him leaving the territorial force – he was a Director of Messrs. Burrup, Mathieson & Sprague Ltd., a 300-year-old stationery manufacturer and printing firm specialising in legal documents, company stationery, shares and bonds.
In early 1914 Herbert was married to Eleanor (nee Walsh)
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war Lieutenant Mathieson rejoined his regiment, being commissioned 25 Sep 1914 and served in Malta before arriving in France in January of 1915.
On the day of his death he was leading a charge at Neuve Chapelle when he fell, mortally wounded. A private under his command was invalided home and informed Lieutenant Mathieson’s widow of that last day. He told her that her husband had been cheering them all up, as he always did before taking them into action. “I never saw a man so cool. We believed in him to a man. He was always one for doing a good turn for anyone, officers or men. ‘A’ Company was ordered up to the front to take a house at the corner of the village of Neuve Chapelle. We were met with a perfect ball of flame—it was hell let loose. The house was held by a dozen Germans and several machine guns. Captain Pulman advanced and fell almost immediately, surrounded by a dozen or so men. Seeing this, the rest of the company half hesitated. Lieutenant Mathieson sprang forward, shouted, “Come on boys, don’t be shy!” They followed as one man. A few seconds afterwards he was shot through the head and died almost immediately.”
Lieutenant Mathieson’s Colonel described him as a splendid character, a gallant gentleman, and a born soldier who would have made his mark had he been spared.
Herbert, died on his 27th Birthday,. was married to Eleanor (nee Walsh).
Additional Information
His younger brothers both served in WW1. Etterick Napier Mathieson was a Lieutenant in Machine Gun Corps and died in Sussex in 1966. Thomas Barnes Mathieson migrated to North America, joining the Canadian Infantry before being commissioned in East Riding Yorkshire Yeomanry.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Tony James
