Captain Lionel Matthews GC MC

Story

Matthews' George Cross and Military Cross

Henry C Moulds

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In the glass display case sits a group of seven medals, court mounted. Five represent periods of service in various locations during the Second World War, however the other two are a testament to exceptional bravery. Both are crosses. One is the Military Cross, awarded for “gallantry during active operations against the enemy”. The other though, was awarded for “…gallant and distinguished service whilst a prisoner-of-war in Japanese hands.” When awarded, this latter medal was the highest award for bravery bestowed by the British government for non-operational gallantry or gallantry not in the presence of an enemy. The recipient of these medals was Captain Lionel Colin Matthews.

Lionel Matthews was born in Stepney, South Australia in August 1912. His military career began when he enlisted in the Citizen Military Force, though he later transferred to the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) where he trained as a signaller. Matthews married Lorna Lane in December 1935, at Kensington, SA. Their son David was born the following year.

Matthews left the RANR to work in Melbourne, and there enlisted in the Militia in April 1939. He rose rapidly in rank and was commissioned lieutenant in January 1940. In June he transferred to 8th Division Signals of the Second Australian Imperial Force, where he commanded the Wireless Operating section. In February 1941 they were sent to Malacca, in Malaya.

On 8th December 1941, Imperial Japanese forces invaded Malaya at Kota Bharu. The Japanese troops quickly drove the British and Malayan defenders back towards Singapore. It was during the withdrawal, at Gemas, that Matthews earned his Military Cross. He was promoted to Captain just before the surrender in February 1942 and became one of the more than 15,000 Australian soldiers who became prisoners of war when Singapore fell. 

The Japanese sent groups of prisoners to other regions on work parties. Matthews became part of ‘B’ Force, almost 1500 men, sent to Sandakan in Borneo in July 1942. Matthews soon became the PoW Intelligence Officer and helped create and direct an underground intelligence organisation. Through connections with locals, he was able to arrange provision of medical supplies and arranged parts for the construction of a secret radio. In July 1943, the network was betrayed. Matthews could have escaped but chose to remain with his men. Despite brutal interrogation over the following months, he never gave away his mates. Finally, with other members of the network, he was tried by a Japanese military court in Kuching. On 2nd March 1944, he was found guilty, sentenced to death and executed the same day.

Final word can be left to Lieutenant Rod Wells, his second-in-command, who, but for a code transcription error, would have shared Matthews’ fate. He stated that Matthews confided that if the work done by the organisation was of any use to the allies, then his life was not in vain. “When the death sentence was passed, Matthews had full control of himself. He shook me by the hand, wished me good luck and said he was pleased to be going with such loyal friends.” Those were the locals who had also been sentenced to death. Matthews’ final act was to refuse a blindfold as he faced his executioners.

 

Additional Source: 

The Tiger Has Many Lives: The Story of Rod Wells, POW Survivor - By Pamela Wells Sevenpens Publishing 2022

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