Next of kin plaque: Corporal Matthew Roach, 25th Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'MATTHEW ROACH'.

Born at Rock Flat, near Cooma, New South Wales, Matthew Roach was employed as a labourer in Queensland when he enlisted in the AIF in Brisbane on 2 February 1915. After initial training he was posted as a private, service number 494, to B Company, 25th Battalion. He left Brisbane for overseas service aboard HMAT A60 Aeneas on 29 June, and after further training in Egypt landed at Gallipoli in September.

The battalion arrived in France on 19 March 1916, the first Australian unit to do so. During its first major action, at Pozieres, three quarters of the battalion became casualties. Matthew Roach, promoted to corporal the previous month, was mortally wounded on 4 August, on a day when the battalion suffered 338 casualties. He was evacuated to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station but died there the same day. He is buried in the Puchvillers British Cemetery.

This commemorative plaque was sent to Roach's father, Thomas, in July 1922. A further two of his sons died during the war: Thomas died from pneumonia in January 1918 while serving with 36th Battalion; William died from multiple shrapnel wounds to the head and neck on 8 October 1918, while serving with the 5th Artillery Brigade.