Matthews, Jack

Jack was the eldest son of James and Alice Annie (nee Worbey) Matthews, born on 26 January 1899 at Willian, Hertfordshire.  By the age of six James and his family were living in Ashwell, Hertfordshire where he was a pupil at the Merchant Taylors School.

Jack enlisted on 16 February 1917 with the Royal Air Force Regimental Number 115846. He was initially listed as a batman and later trained as an Air Mechanic. Jack was based at Old Sarum Airfield.  He survived the war and was discharged on 11 April 1919.

He is commemorated on the St Mary’s Church Ashwell Roll of Honour.

Jack married Rosa E Waters at Ashwell in 1922.  The 1939 census shows them living in Harpenden, Hertfordshire with Jack a chauffeur-gardener.  This census also suggests they had three children.

Jack died at Worthing, Sussex in November 1985.