Military Cross ribbon bar : Captain L Matthews and Captain S Woods

Military Cross ribbon bar with safety pin sewn to reverse.

This Military Cross ribbon bar was presented to VX24597 Captain Lionel Matthews by General Arthur Percival in Changi prisoner of war camp on 10 May 1942. Matthews had been awarded the MC for his actions in maintaining communications while under heavy fire leading up to the fall of Singapore in February 1942. The citation for the award reads:

'During operations at GEMAS this officer succeeded in maintaining cable communications between his Brigade Headquarters and units under heavy artillery and mortar fire and aerial bombardment, displaying a high standard of courage, energy and ability in doing so.

Later, during the operation on SINGAPORE ISLAND, CAPTAIN MATTHEWS succeeded in laying a cable over ground strongly patrolled by the enemy and thus restoring communication between his Divisional Headquarters and the Headquarters of a Brigade at a critical period.'

The ribbon bar was a spare owned by fellow internee, VX63973 Captain Stanley Woods. Woods had won the award in the First World War while serving with 27 Battalion.

In July 1942 Matthews was transferred to the Sandakan POW camp on Borneo where he became involved in secret underground activities until he was betrayed, tortured and executed. For his conduct at Sandakan, Matthews was posthumously awarded the George Cross.

After the war the ribbon bar was returned to Matthews widow, Lorna, and passed to his son, David, who returned it to Stanley Woods's family. It was later donated to the Australian War Memorial.