Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

A Great War Egypt and Palestine operations C.M.G., Serbia and Macedonia operations D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Colonel J. S. Matthew, Army Service Corps, late Volunteer and Territorial Forces, who otherwise gained fame for his part in the early development of cycling and motoring in Scotland

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamels; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col., A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Col.); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1912; Serbian Order of the White Eagle, 4th class breast badge, with swords, silver, silver-gilt and enamel, mounted court-style as worn, generally good very fine

The Great War and Second World War campaign service group of three awarded to Captain J. S. Matthew, Army Service Corps, the Colonel’s son

British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Capt.); War Medal 1939-45, these good very fine or better (10) £1200-1500

C.M.G. London Gazette 3 June 1918 (Egypt).

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

Serbian Order of the White Eagle London Gazette 21 April 1917: ‘In recognition of services during the operations in Serbia in November and December 1915.’

John Smart Matthew, who was born in Dundee in March 1864, was commissioned into the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, the Royal Highlanders in January 1893, but subsequently transferred to the 9th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, from which unit he was ‘selected in 1913 to command the 52nd Lowland Division Train, A.S.C.’, the same year in which he was awarded his T.D.

He subsequently served in Serbia and Macedonia, and in Egypt and Palestine, winning his D.S.O. for the former theatres of war, and his C.M.G. for the latter, in addition to at least four “mentions” (Murray’s and Milne’s despatches of 13 July and 8 October 1916 refer, and London Gazettes of 14 June and 7 October 1918 refer), the last of them most probably for France and Belgium, where he ended the War. Certainly the Lowland Division Train won the admiration of all for its part in the Palestine operations of 1917, not least for its wonderful re-supply work when the enemy threatened to seize the lateral line of communication along the railway from Ludd to Jerusalem that November. As one historian noted for the record, as the British pushed forward to prevent the Turks seizing that initiative, ‘no Division received better service at this crucial time than did the 52nd from all concerned, from Lieutenant-Colonel J. S. Matthew, the Senior Supply Officer, with his Staff, to the Quarter-Masters, Transport Officers and their men - it must be remembered that the camels, and the men who accompanied them, usually had a double journey to make.’

Following the Great War, Matthew no doubt returned to his interests in motoring, some of his earlier achievements in that field receiving due recognition in his Who’s Who entry:

‘Helped to establish pneumatic tyre industry in Scotland; associated with early development of cycling and motoring; contributed largely under nom de plume to journals dealing with these subjects; identified with elliptical single sleeve valve engine and left mark on motor chassis construction and stream-line carosserie ... nine months before outbreak of war organised motor industry of Scotland for service in national emergency; raised personnel for two mechanical transport companies and several horse transport units for War Office.’

The Colonel, who retired to The Manor, Sutton Coldfield, died in February 1935.

Sold with a quantity of original documentation and related artefacts, including the warrants (and statutes) for his C.M.G., dated 3 June 1918, and D.S.O., dated 1 January 1917; four M.I.D. certificates, one of them a duplicate issue for Allenby’s despatch dated 3 April 1918; commission warrant for appointment as 2nd Lieutenant, Volunteer Forces, dated 18 February 1893, mounted on card; and his Freedom of the City of London document, dated 1930, this last accompanied by an attractive silver cigarette case marking the same occasion, the lid with enamelled Arms of the City and engraved, ‘Col. J. S. Matthew, C.M.G., D.S.O.’; together with a silver-gilt commemorative key marking the opening of new club rooms for 225 Field Company, R.E. and assorted metalled or embroidered badges (7), including a “Serbian Units Branch” enamelled example; and his Great War identity disc.