Mathesons who served within New Zealand during the First World War

As well as the 80 Mathesons (including those with similar names) from New Zealand who served overseas during the First World War, some 22 joined the army but did not leave these shores.  Men were still being conscripted well into 1918, and others volunteered as they reached the qualifying age of 20.  Those still in training when the war came to an end in November 1918 were no longer required, and were soon discharged.  There is a sense looking at the personnel files of these men that as the war had ground on, the army was increasingly scraping the barrel in terms of the suitability of conscripts.  Some judged fit when called up were soon shown to be physically unsuitable once they entered training camps.

As with those listed in the separate article on New Zealand Mathesons who served overseas, it’s interesting to look at the occupations: almost all were rural or manual.

When the war ended, many in these lists were placed on indefinite leave without pay while their formal discharge from the army was organised.  They were effectively demobilised from this point, and I have used that term for brevity’s sake.

These servicemen are not listed on the Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Cenotaph database, but you can find their personnel files by searching on Archive New Zealand’s database Archway.  I’ve included links to the files.

Andrew Matheson

May 2015

Surname	First names	Rank last held	Serial number	Comments
Matheson	Angus	Private	52718	Farmer.  Ballotted for service 1917 but rejected as being over age (47); one wonders how he was even included.  Born in Scotland; had served for New Zealand in the Boer War.
Matheson	Angus John	Private	61339	Shepherd.  Called up 1916 but rejected by a medical board, which said “We do not think this man will ever make a soldier”.
Matheson	Charles	Private	63749	Blacksmith’s stoker.  Went into service 1917 but discharged later that year because of an old ankle injury.
Matheson	Cyril Arthur	Private	82710	Builder.  Called up 1918 and initially graded as fit for service, but once in camp found to be medically unsuitable.  Discharged July 1918.
Matheson	Donald Robert	Private	86088	Clerk.  Volunteered in August 1918, and discharged November 1918.
Matheson	Duncan	Trooper	76826	Warehouseman.  Volunteered May 1917.  Only marginally fit, and discharged on Armistice Day.
Matheson	Duncan	Lance Corporal	47348	Shepherd.  Called up 1916 and found to be marginally fit.  Served in New Zealand in the military police, and discharged September 1918.
Matheson	George David	Trooper	72183	Farmer.  Entered army February 1918 and discharged at end of war.
Matheson	James	Rifleman	26/980	Farmer.  Volunteered 1915 but found to be medically unsuitable.
Matheson	James Alexander	Regimental Sergeant Major	3/2266	Theatrical agent.  Called up late 1915 and served in Dental Corps.  Discharged February 1919.  Read more about James Alexander Matheson here.
Matheson	James Percy	Private	88977	Farm hand.  Joined up September 1918 and discharged November 1918.
Matheson	Mads Robert Gordon	Corporal	92538	Bank manager.  Joined up October 1918 and demobilised the following month.  (The name Mads is the Norwegian form of Matthew; he was born in New Zealand but his father was from Norway and his mother from Scotland).
Matheson	Samuel	none	N/N	Carter.  Unfit for overseas service because of a history of tuberculosis, but enrolled in reserves (while his address was given as a patient in the sanatorium!).
Matheson	Thomas	Private	30714	Farmer.  Joined up voluntarily August 1916.  Eyesight inadequate for active service, so joined the Army Service Corps.  Discharged January 1919.  Next of kin father in Scotland.

Surname	First names	Rank last held	Serial number	Comments
Mathieson	Alexander	Private	17796	Farm manager.  Volunteered.  Judged fit on enlistment April 1916 but discharged three months later as medically unfit for service.
Mathieson	David	Private	89474	Carrier.  Joined up September 1918 but discharged the following month.
Mathieson	James	Private	86121	Labourer.  Joined August 1918 and discharged November 1918.
Mathieson	John Law	Private	90115	Farmer.  Joined September 1918 and discharged November 1918.
Mathieson	Richard James Claud	Private	85542	Labourer.  Joined July 1918 and discharged November 1918.
Mathieson	Robert Brunton	Private	76668	Farmer.  Joined March 1918 and discharged September 1918.
Mathieson	William Edward	Gunner	10624	Blacksmith.  Joined January 1916.  A sprained ankle during training rendered him unfit for overseas service, and he was discharged in July 1916.
Mathieson	William Edward	Sergeant	57799	Professional soldier.  Volunteered for overseas service at least twice but rejected as unfit, and discharged as no longer physically fit June 1917.