Name
Arthur Edgar Matkin
2 Sep 1889
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
24/04/1915
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
2689
East Surrey Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 34.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial
Pre War
Arthur Edgar Matkin was born in Chelsea, Middx., on 2 Sep 1889 (baptised on 6 Oct 1889 at St Lukes, Chelsea) to Joseph W Matkin, plumber, and Mary Catherine (nee Hutton).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Joseph Edward (born 1887), William Alfred (born 1888) and Arthur E were living at 20 Marlborough Square, Chelsea.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, William Alfred and Arthur E were living at 44, Gertrude Street, Chelsea.
Arthur’s father died in 1908.
On the 1911 Census Arthur (a timekeeper) was living with his widowed mother, William A (bookbinder’s clerk), together with two lodgers Herbert Cooks (engineer’s turner, 1885) & Alfred Shrimpton (letterpress minder, born 1884) at 14, Ridge Road, Letchworth, Herts.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Arthur. He is believed to have enlisted as Private 2689 in the East Surrey Regiment soon after the Outbreak of the Great War in August 1914. Following his training he went to France on 6 Mar 1915 joining the 2nd Battalion at Ypres.
The 2nd Battalion had been in India in Aug 1914 and had returned to UK on 23 Dec 1914, had re-equipped for European conditions and deployed to France on 19 Jan 1915 to become part of 85 Brigade 28 Division located in the area between Bailleul and Hazebrouck. They were soon involved in The Second Battles of Ypres, in the the Battle of Gravenstafel (22-23 Apr 1915), The Battle of St. Julien (24 Apr – 4 May 1915), it was in this last action that action that Arthur was killed. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 and arrears of £3 5s 1d was paid to his mother, who also received a pension of 5s/week.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Dan Hill, Janet Capstick, Jonty Wild
