John Stuart Matthews
John Stuart Matthews was a Postman at Newark Post Office after leaving school before volunteering for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in May 1941.
He was a keen sportsman and had represented Magnus Grammar School, Newark Upon Trent at both Rugby Union and Cricket.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Born : 1921.
Son of : John Stuart Matthews and Agnes McQueen Matthewa of 73. Appleton Gate, Newark Upon Trent, Nottinghamshire.
Volunteered for the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in May 1941.
29th April 1941 :No.2 School of Recruits Training : RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire.
30th June 1941 : No.1 Aircrew Reception Centre : Weston Super Mare, Somerset.
27th September 1941 : N0.1 Initial Training Wing, St. Andrews, Scotland.
13th November 1941 : No.1 Elementary Air Observer School, Eastbourne.
14th March 1942 : No.32 Air Navigation School, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
17th July 1942 : No.31 Personnel Despatch Centre, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.
8th August 1942 : No.3 Personnel Reeception Centre, Somerset House, Bath Road, Bournemouth.
September 1942 : No.30 Observer Advanced Flying Unit,
15th September 1942 : No.26 Operational Training Unit, RAF Wing, Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire.
11th February 1943 : 1651 Conversion Unit, REF Waterbeach Cambridgeshire. (Handley Page Halifax).
25th March 1943 : No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron, RAF Tempsford, Sandy, Bedfordshire.
11/4/43 No. 138 (Special Duties) Squadron RAF Tempsford Sandy, Bedfordshire.
May 43 Pilot F/O Reginald Eric Wilkinson, crew
Night of
12/13th. France. 22.17 Halifax BB309 Operations Scientist20 (A network in the area
of Bordeaux) /Artist2/3 successful.
13/14th. France. 23.14 Halifax BB309 Operations Physician 27 (Also known as
Prosper - Paris/Northern France )/Roach successful.
15/16th. France. 22.14 Halifax BB309 Operations Artist 7/Perch 11 failed no signal
from ground
16/17th. France. 22.43 Halifax BB330 Operations Roach9/32/Tinker1 successful.
18/19th. France. 22.14 Halifax DT726 Operations Gudgeon4/Scalere failed landed
08.05 St Eval.
20/21st. France. 23.00 Halifax BB309 Operations Roach37/24/Tench1 partial success.
(138 sqn 5 ops - 3 SOE, 2 SIS agents dropped 22 containers despatched)
23/24th. France. 00.47 Halifax BB309 Operation Privet2 no info.
June
10/11th. France. 22.45 Halifax HR666 Operations Privet2 Artist 4 failed no signal
from ground.
11/12th. France. 22.57 Halifax HR666 Operations Roach35/Physician 46 no info.
13/14th. France. 22.50 Halifax HR666 Operation Scientist 22/26 failed.
14/15th. France. 23.19 Halifax JD171 Operation Physician 48/46 successful.
16/17th. France. 23.06 Halifax BB330 Operations Physician 72 , Mistral 1 successful.
19/20th. Holland. 23.29 Halifax BB309 Operations Leek8/Catarrh 12 successful.
20/21st. France. 22.50 Halifax BB378 Operations Publican/Roach56
Butterfish/Bloater failed adverse weather.
22/23rd. Belgium. 23.02 Halifax BB309 Operations Mouflon/Caracal5/Gibbon 4
successful.
23/24th. Holland. 00.35 Halifax BB309 Operation Leek9 RTB failed compass.
July
12/13th. France. 22.44 Halifax BB309 Operation Roach 56/63 failed.
13/14th. France. 22.45 Halifax BB309 Operation Roach 61/134 successful.
15/16th. France. 22.50 Halifax JD180 Operation Scientist 50 successful.
16/17th. France. 22.45 Halifax BB309 Operation Tomcod27/28 landed 06.30 successful.
22/23rd. France. 22.20 Halifax JD180 Operation Covey successful.
3rd August 1943 : Dischargd : 1427799, Flight Sergeant.
4th August 1943 : Temporary Commission,155552, Pilot Officer, No.138 (Special Duties) Squadron, RAF Tempsford, Sandy, Bedfordshire.
4th August 1943 : Awarded : Distinguished Flying Medal.
Gazette Citation reads :"Throughout he has displayed an exceptionally high standard of navigation and his efforts have been attended by much success".
15th October 1943 : He was presented with a pair of gold cufflinks from Newark Post Office "In appreciation of the honour he had brought them by being their first member of staff to win a distinction in the War".
4th February 1944 : Promoted : Flying Officer : He relinquished his commission on the grounds of ill health but retained his rank.
He had flown on 30 missions to France, Holland and Belgium, in just three months dropping off secret agents and supplies to resistance units.
Fifteeen months later, just a few weeks after VE Day he died in Southfield Nursing Home, Nottingham from Tuberculosis.
Buried : Newark Cemetery, Newark Upon Trent, Nottinghamshire.
Grave Reference : Section :B West : Grave : 326.
CWGC Reference : Unknown.
Personal Inscription reads : "At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will Remember them".
Commemorated : Newark Upon Trent World War One and World War Two War Memorial, Newark Cemetery, Newark Upon Trent, Nottinghamshire as : J.S. Matthews.
Photo of John Stuart Matthews
Photo: Shaun Noble
Photo of John Stuart Matthews
Photograph of Flying Officer, John Stuart Matthews' headstone by Gary Crosby on the 30th November 2021.
Photo of John Stuart Matthews
Photograph of Flying Officer, John Stuart Matthews DFM supplied by Gary Crosby.
Photo of John Stuart Matthews
Photograph of Newark Cemetery World War One & World War Two War Memorial on which Flying Officer, John Stuart Matthews DFM is Commemorated by Gary Crosby on the 30th November 2021.