Known as William, he was the son of Major Dugald Matheson who was in charge of the interment camp on Somes Island in Wellington and Marion Alice Matheson.
Born in Palmerston North in June 1897, he was a farmer though when he joined up in June 1917 he was working as guard at the internment camp on Somes Island. After brief training in New Zealand he left in August 1917 as part of the 29th Reinforcements and was assigned to the Wellington Infantry Regiment. He reached the Western Front in November 1917.
In July 1918 he was slightly injured when hit in the back by a rifle butt, but this was enough to see him hospitalised in France and returned to England for further treatment. By September 1918 he was discharged but rather than return to the front he was put on the staff of the Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital where he had been a patient. He embarked on a troopship for New Zealand in April 1919.
A few years later Wiliam applied to join the army again, using just the name William. This time his birthdate was given as December 1899, indicating he had falsified his age in 1917 to meet the minimum age limit of 20. In his application William explained that he was likely to be made redundant from his position as canvas machinist. He attested in April 1924, but didn’t last long. In July 1924 he was discharged from the army because he was “Unlikely to become an efficient soldier”.