John Smith Matheson
Memorial: Bitton - St Mary's Church
Regiment: Scots Guards
Medals: Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Silver War Badge
Rank and number: 16540
Parents: Thomas Hodge and Margaret Matheson
Marital status: Single
Home address: Home Address: Mill House, Bitton Lived: 1911 Census – Boarder 32 Rudge Road, Coventry
Pre-war occupation: Linotype Operator (Printer)
Date of birth: 1892
Place of birth: Edinburgh
Date of death: 20/03/1919
Buried/Commemorated at: St Mary’s Church graveyard, Bitton
Age: 27
Further information:
John originally enlisted in January 1916 and was placed in the reserves. He was called up in February 1917, but he was discharged in May 1917 as he was ‘no longer fit for active service’ – this was due to a lung disease. His character was described as sober and hardworking. He died on 20/03/1919 from Pneumonia.
John’s father was a paper cutter and lived at the Mill House, Bitton along with his wife Margaret. His father died in December 1920, and is buried in St Mary’s Church graveyard, Bitton.
John is commemorated on the Upton Cheyney United Reform church memorial and the Bitton, St Mary’s Church memorial.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Findmypast (Soldiers Died during the Great War, 1901 & 1911 Census etc), Volunteer Researcher John Davis.