Dyson, Matthew

No.7968 – Private Matthew Dyson – 16^th Battalion AIF

Matthew Dyson was born in Bibra Lake Fremantle WA in 1899 to Matthew and Emma Dyson. His father was a farmer in the Bibra Lake district. Young Matthew was educated at Hamilton Hill School and after leaving took up work as a labourer and driver. In 1911 his father died and in 1914 his mother remarried though by the end of the war had separated due to several issues.

Matthew was living with his mother in Norfolk Street Fremantle when he enlisted into the AIF on the 17^th September 1917. Aged 18, he was passed as fit and accepted for service. The medical examiner found that Matthew was 5 feet 81/2 inches in height; weight of 142 lbs; chest measurement of 32-34 inches; dark complexion; brown eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Methodist.

After spending six weeks in No.D3 Depot, on the 30^th October 1917 Matthew was allotted to the 27^th Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion AIF. He embarked at Fremantle with this group on the 23^rd November 1917 aboard the H.M.A.T. “Canberra”. On the 21^st December 1917 they disembarked at Suez where they stayed for over two weeks. On the 9^th January 1918 they boarded a H.M.T. “Kashgar” in Port Said and sailed for Italy where they disembarked in Taranto. From Taranto Italy they travelled by train through France and to the Channel Ports where they crossed & finally made it to Southampton England on the 30^th January 1918.

On the 31^st January Matthew marched into the 13^th Training Battalion at Codford Camp where he commenced training. On the 11^th February Matthew reported sick and was sent to hospital suffering from influenza, though returned on the 19^th February. On the 7^th March Matthew was again sick with influenza and stayed in hospital for a further six days. He returned to the 13^th Training Battalion on the 13^th March. On the 11^th April he was transferred to the 12^th Training Battalion where he spent three more weeks.

Matthew was put into a draft of men bound for France and left Folkestone Harbour on the 6^th May 1918. After arriving in France he was marched into the New Zealand Infantry Training Depot at Etaples though only spent a few days here before marching out to his battalion. Matthew was officially taken on strength of the 16^th Battalion on the 19^th May 1918. The 16^th Battalion had been fighting on the Somme front since March 1918 in stopping the German advance. They were initially based at Hebuterne but came south to rejoin other Australian units near Villers-Bretonneux. On the 4^th July 1918 Matthew as part of the 16^th Battalion took part in the capture of Hamel. On the 28^th July he was evacuated sick with influenza but rejoined the 16^th Battalion on the 2^nd August.

On the 6^th August Matthew went absent without leave for six hours which resulted in him being awarded 28 days of field punishment No.2 and the forfeiture of 33 days pay. Two days later on August 8^th the large Amiens offensive began which pushed the Germans back. All Australian divisions were involved and the 16^th Battalion captured their objectives. Through August and September the Australians continued to advance against the Germans and pushed them all the way back to the Hindenburg Line. On the 18^th September 1918 the 16^th Battalion fought for the last time on the Western Front before they were withdrawn for a long rest.  During the successful assault on Le Veregueir the 16^th only had light casualties of 5 men killed, however one of these was Matthew Dyson. He had been initially reported wounded but this was later amended to read ‘killed in action’. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

After the war his mother had a plaque dedicated to his memory in Honour Avenues Kings Park.