Edward Matthews (Australian soldier)

Albert Edward "Ted" Matthews was born on 11 November 1896 in Leichhardt, an inner city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. A carpenter by trade, he was only 17 years of age when he enlisted to serve as an infantryman in the First World War. He became a signals officer in the Australian 1st Infantry Brigade.

Service
Matthews took part in the first ANZAC landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 at what is now known as ANZAC Cove. Early in the landing, Matthews was hit in the chest by a shrapnel shard. A thick pocket-book - a present from his mother - saved his life.

After the Battle of Gallipoli, he went on to fight on the Western Front. He was one of the Australian soldiers who were part of remarkable feat of arms achieved at Villers-Bretonneux.

Death
Until his death in 1997, Matthews was the last living veteran of the Gallipoli landing. Mr. Matthews had been inducted to the Australian national Australian Living Treasures list. As a man who had seen the brutality of war, Ted Matthews sometimes spoke publicly of the futility of wars. He regarded ANZAC Day as "... not for old diggers to remember, it's for survivors to warn the young about the dangers of romanticising war." Matthews died in his sleep on 9 December 1997. He was given a State Funeral in recognition of his war service and his special place in Australian history.