Lieutenant Eric Clive Tait 'Snow White' Matthewson

Eric Clive Tait Matthewson was born at North Melbourne on 2 August 1894 to John Matthewson and Alice Elizabeth Matthewson (née Tait). He was the first of six children and had one younger brother and four sisters. Educated from 1905 at Melbourne Continuation School, Victoria’s first state secondary school, Matthewson worked as a public school teacher in Victoria. He served for two years in the senior cadets and eight months in the Field Artillery prior to his service during the First World War.

Matthewson married Dorothy Francis Gell at Carlton, Victoria on 31 March 1917. No children have been identified from this marriage.

Matthewson enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) at Melbourne on 26 April 1916 and was attached to the Field Artillery Brigade (FAB). In January 1917 he was commissioned as second lieutenant.. Matthewson embarked with the February 1917 Reinforcements on the troopship Shropshire on 11 May 1917, He disembarked at Plymouth, England, on 19 July 1917 before going to Lark Hill camp, Salisbury. This was the established camp for Australian artillery units at this time. In October 1917, Matthewson was promoted to lieutenant, sent to France and attached to the 5th Field Artillery Brigade, 13th Battery.

On 2 October 1918, near Joncourt, France, Matthewson was sent forward to select a position for his artillery battery and to lay out lines of fire. During this time, the two officer assistants with him were wounded in a heavy enemy barrage. Matthewson dressed their wounds and carried on alone, leading the battery to the required position. The following day Matthewson made a daring reconnaissance under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, sending back valuable information to enable his artillery group to direct their fire. For these actions, that also assisted the accompanying 3oth American Division, Matthewson was awarded the United States Distinguished Service Medal.
Except for two weeks leave in England, during late August and early September 1918, Matthewson remained with the 5th FAB in France until May 1919. This is when he returned to England to prepare for the voyage home to Australia. Matthewson departed England aboard the troopship Karmala on 5 July 1919.

During the journey home to Australia, Matthewson participated in an Officer’s Concert on the Karmala on 8 August 1919 in which he sang the song “Friend O’Mine”. He was discharged from the AIF on 17 September 1919.

Matthewson returned to teaching after his war service and taught at schools in suburban Melbourne until about 1925, the year his wife, Dorothy, died. Matthewson is recorded as teaching in Echuca in 1927. In 1929, Matthewson married Mary Wain, and relocated to the Gippsland area of Victoria.

In July 1920, Matthewson was placed on the Reserve of Officers as a lieutenant. He joined the 29th Battalion on 3 March 1939, before reaching the ranks of temporary captain on 21 October 1939 and temporary major on 22 May 1940. Matthewson joined the 22nd Battalion on 20 August 1940 and was appointed commanding officer of the battalion, 7 days later. He continued to hold this position until 3 July 1943 and was appointed to the rank of temporary lieutenant colonel on 22 April 1941.

Matthewson enlisted in the 2nd AIF at Korumburra, Victoria on 23 July 1942, serving as a lieutenant colonel. He was deployed to Milne Bay, New Guinea in March 1943 and returned to Australia in June 1943. Matthewson was again placed on the Reserve of Officers on 25 October 1943.

In February 1944, Matthewson was appointed inspector of schools for the Stawell and Warracknabeal districts in Victoria. He continued in this role until his death.

Eric Clive Tait Matthewson died at Essendon, Victoria, on 4 March 1957 at the age of 62.