Name
Frank Richardson Matthews
8/08/1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
15/08/1916
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Leading Seaman
229890
Royal Navy
H.M. Submarine 'E.4.'
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
SHOTLEY (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD
Submarine Enclosure.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon, St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon, Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Broxbourne (*1), Royal Naval Submarine Memorial Wall Gosport Hampshire
Pre War
Frank Richard MATTHEWS was born in Ponders End, Middlesex, on 8th August 1887, son of James Thomas Matthews a Nurseryman and Gertrude Matthews (nee Newnan). One of their six Children. His parents were married on 11th December 1880, at Saint James Church, Enfield Highway, Middx.
Frank was Baptised on 9th September 1887, at Saint Matthews Church, Ponder’s End, Middlesex.
1891 Census records Frank aged 3, living with his parents, two brothers and three sisters at 7 Langford Cottages, South Street, Enfield, Middx. The family had a live-in General Domestic Servant. His father is recorded as a Florist.
1901 Census, Frank (13), his parents, three sisters and brother Walter (19) are now living at 2 Mostyn Villas, Whitley Road, Hoddesdon, Herts. His father is a Garden Nursery Manager.
Frank enlisted in the Royal Navy, at Portsmouth, on his 18th Birthday, 8th August 1905, for 12years, and issued with the service No. 229890.
1911 Census, Frank (23) is still in the Royal Navy, stationed in Columbo, Ceylon, (now Sri Lanka) aboard HMS Pelorus, a Third-Class Protected Cruiser. His parents, brother Herbert (27) and sister Mable (21) are living in West Hill Cottages, Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Herts.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war in August 1914, Frank was still serving in the Royal Navy, as a Leading Seaman with H.M. Submarine Fleet.
On 15th August 1916, Frank was serving aboard H.M. Submarine E.4, when it was involved in a collision with its sister Submarine E41, during a training exercises off Harwich, in the North sea, both submarines were sank, the crew of E.4 were all lost (about 30 men) with only 14 surviving from E.41. Both submarines were later raised, repaired, and recommissioned into service. Frank is buried in St Mary Churchyard, Shotley, Suffolk.
Additional Information
A Pension Card exists for his Parents James and Gertrude Matthews as a Dependent. No value is recorded, it states claim withdrawn on 17th November 1916.
His brother Gunner 208673 Herbert George Matthews was killed in action on 24th September 1918, and who is also commemorated on these memorials.
We believe his sister Edith Kate Matthews was a Staff Nurse and enlisted in Queen Alexanders Imperial Military Nursing Service in May 1917, serving in various Stationary Hospitals in France, during the war, she returned to England in the early part of 1920.
*1 we think that he may be the F Matthews who was educated at Broxbourne C Of E Primary School, Broxbourne.
His service record is available on-line at Ancestry UK www.ancestry.co.uk and Find my Past UK www.findmypast.co.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox
