Name
John Wilfred (poss Wilfrid) Mather
3 January 1873
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/08/1915
42
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HELLES MEMORIAL
Panel 152 to 154.
Turkey (including Gallipoli)
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Royal Memorial Chapel, RMA Sandhurst
Pre War
He was born in Lymm, Cheshire on the 3 February (some records have January) 1873 and was baptised on 14 February 1874 in St. Peter Church, Oughtrington, Cheshire. He was the eldest son of the Rev. Frank Albert Mather and Jessie Caroline (nee Clay), later of Highbury House, Hitchin.
In 1881 the family were living at The Rectory, 9 St Leonards Church Yard. Present were both parents: Frank (42) and Jessie (30), with Frank the Rector of St Leonard’s Church. Their children were: John Wilfred (8), Alice L. (6), James K. (5), Janet S. (3) and Una at 8 months. Also present was a brother Edward L. Mather (55) and governess, Fanny M.A. Samsdory (24) and servant Sarah M. Eade (44).
He was educated at Repton School and later at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
In 1891 John was 18 and still a scholar at Repton School, boarding at The Cross - an old coaching house which became a boys' boarding house in 1880.
He was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and later promoted to Lieutenant, resigning his commission in 1899. He then went farming in Canada, but it is not clear exactly when he went. He was certainly in England in 1905 as he married Rhoda Mary Lysons at Rowsley, Derbyshire on September 27 September 1905. The wedding report in the Evening Telegraph described him as ‘of Costa Rica’, so perhaps he had been there, between his Army service and the marriage, and before going to Canada and might explain why we have not found him in the 1901 census.
The name ‘John Mather’ appears several times in the passenger lists to Canada, and they are not all this man. However, the later Canadian 1911 Census suggests 1907 and there is john Mather in the passenger lists described as 38, married but without his wife, who arrived on 29 November 1907. However, the age is wrong and perhaps, surprisingly, his profession is described as a bricklayer, which there is doubt if this is the correct man. It is still possible that he went ahead of his wife, if so he returned because he and his wife were recorded arriving in Quebec on 1 May 1909.
By 1911 Saskatchewan census shows John, married, but without his wife, boarding at the home of John William Masterman and not in work. So far we have not found wife. There has to be a question mark over his marital status because in his enlistment papers dated 24 September 1914, gives his father in Hitchin as his next of kin not his wife and he is recorded as not married. Rhoda May Mather appears to be back in England visiting the Wright household at Aldborough House, Park Street, Thaxted, Essex.
His attestation also record as 41 years and 6 months old, a commercial traveller and that he had previously been an officer in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers for 6 years. He was described as 5’ 10 1/2” tall, 158 lbs with brown hair and eyes and a dark complexion.
Wartime Service
He sailed with the 22nd Saskatchewan Light Horse on 3 October 1914 with the service number 15274. They arrived later in October 1914. He was promoted from Lance Corporal to Lance Sergeant 13 November 1914, then Sergeant from Lance Sergeant 22 November 1914 at West Down. He was then discharged from 6th Bn Canadian Infantry, to join the New Army on 18 December 1914 to take up his commission in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
On the night of the 9th August 1915, the 6th Battalion replaced the New Zealanders on Chunuk Bair and the Pinnacle in Gallipoli. The men were badly entrenched, exhausted, hungry, thirsty and lacking in leadership due to the high rate of officer casualties. The Turks launched a massive attack at 4.45am on the 10th August 1915 with murderous efficiency that overwhelmed the outposts and the main line of the 6th Battalion of the Loyals.
Additional Information
Probate was granted on 10 December 1923 to Esme Katharine Lysons. The value of his effects was £3151 11s 4d. Esme was the younger sister of John’s wife. It is thought that John’s wife died in 1919.
John is also commemorated on the family grave in Hitchin Cemetery
Acknowledgments
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
