Fitzpatrick, Matthew Michael

623 Corporal Matthew Michael Fitzpatrick - 7th Machine Gun Company

Matthew Michael Fitzpatrick was born in North Fremantle in 1890 to Joseph and Catherine Fitzpatrick. He had a brother Joseph born in 1892, though sadly he died the same year, a brother Everett in 1894, a sister Kathleen in 1898 and another sister Stella born in 1901.

He was educated at CBC Fremantle with the family living in High Street Fremantle.

He took part in the cadets at school and had also served in the Royal Australian Navy Reserves. From 1911 to 1913 Matthew worked for the WA Government Railways in Fremantle.

Matthew stated he was working as a Ships Fireman when he enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 9th March 1915, through strangely he enlisted at Southern Cross in inland WA. The medical examiner passed him as fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 2 inches;

Weight - 125lbs;

Chest Measurement - 33-35 inches;

Complexion - Dark;

Eyes - Grey;

Hair - Black.

The medical officer also wrote the following on Matthew's enlistment form;

'This man is under standard height but he is very strong and well developed and of good constitution. He has had naval training. Under these conditions I have recommended his being accepted.'

Matthew was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was initially assigned to No.12 Depot Company. He spent a short time here before he was transferred to 'D' Company of the newly forming 28th Battalion AIF.

Matthew trained with the 28th Battalion in WA until June 1915. On the 9th June 1915 the 28th Battalion entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Ascanius and set sail for Egypt.

After their arrival in Egypt the 28th Battalion spent July and August undergoing further training. They were then shipped to Gallipoli, arriving there ion the 4th September 1915. Although they had missed the August battles, they would be holding the line in newly captured territory at the north of the Anzac battlefield.

Matthew remained at Gallipoli from September to December 1915. He was in the Machine Gun section of the 28th Battalion and they remained at Anzac during the evacuation, being attached to the 20th Battalion. Fortunately the machine gun section were safely evacuated and were among the last to leave the Anzac battlefield.

When Gallipoli was evacuated Matthew returned with his unit to Egypt in January 1916. They then had two more months in the Egyptian desert. In February Matthew was hospitalised with laryngitis, though he was only away from his unit for two weeks.

With the increased number of enlistments the Australian authorities decided to form three new divisions, and many smaller units were formed. On the 2nd March 1916 Matthew was transferred to the 7th Machine Gun Company.

On the 14th March 1916 Matthew and his unit left Egypt and proceeded to France, arriving at Marseilles on the 21st March 1916. After being disembarked the men were entrained north for the Armentieres sector. They would have their first experience of the Western Front at places such as Bois Greiner and Fleurbaix from April to June 1916.

In July Matthew's unit headed for the Somme battlefield  where they would take part in the action at Pozieres. The 7th Machine Gun Company would support the infantry operations at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm through July and August 1916.

Matthew came through these actions unscathed and was promoted to Corporal in August 1916. Further good work saw Matthew promoted to Sergeant in November 1916.

From November 1916 to February 1917 Matthew's unit was stationed on the Somme battlefield, undergoing a freezing French winter. On the 14th February 1917 Matthew was evacuated sick. He was sent by ambulance train to the French town of Rouen where he was admitted to the 6th General Hospital suffering from bronchitis. He had several days here but on the 28th February was shipped to England, where upon arrival he was sent to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Birmingham England.

On the 19th March 1917 he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford. After a few days his condition was improved enough that he was released from hospital and was given a two week furlough.

On the 9th April 1917 Matthew reported for duty to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Perham Downs. On the 19th May 1917 he was transferred to the Machine Gun Training Depot at Grantham.

During early 1917 Matthew had been recommended for the Italian Bronze Medal for Military Valour, for;

Consistent Good work under fire, both on Gallipoli, and during raids and brigade attacks in France.

When Matthew returned to France he was sent to the Machine Gun Base Depot Camp at Camiers. He would spend over a week here and was informed that he would now be sent to the 22nd Machine Gun Company. This was a Machine Gun Company that would support the 2nd Australian Division in their operations.

He joined them on the 31st May 1917 and the 2nd Australian Division had just been pulled out of the line for a three month rest period so Matt had time to train with his new unit.

On the 31st August 1917 Matt was sent to a Command Machine Gun Course at Camiers. Matt rejoined his unit on the 28th September 1917. He had missed his units action at the Battle of Menin Road on the 20th September 1917 but served with his unit in the follow up operations at Zonnebeke and Broodseinde Ridge.

On the 7th October 1917 Matt suffered a shrapnel wound to his left thigh and after treatment at the field ambulance and casualty clearing station Matthew was sent to the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers. Matthew spent a week here but was then shipped to England for further treatment, being admitted to the Central Military Hospital at Chatham on the 16th October 1917.

It was during this time that Matt found that he had been awarded the Military Medal for his actions at Broodseinde Ridge. The recommendation reads; 

"For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty in operations in the vicinity of Zonnebeke Station from 4th October 1917."

On the 10th November 1917 Matthew was well enough to be released from hospital and was given a two week furlough. After which he reported back to Hospital.

Unfortunately at some point in the next wo months, Matthew became unwell after a liaison and reported sick. He was sent to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford as he had been diagnosed with venereal disease. He spent several weeks getting better and on the 2nd April 1918 was well enough to leave and was sent to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell and then the Machine Gun Camp at Grantham.

During this period Matthew took three days unauthorised leave and as a punishment was reduced in rank from Sergeant to Corporal and was also fined thirteen days pay.

Matthew was at the Machine Gun Training Camp until the 29th June 1916 when he was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. Due to his wound not healing well enough to return to his unit, the medical authorities decided to return Matt to Australia.

On the 21st July 1918 Matt boarded the transport ship Boonah and set sail for home, reaching Fremantle on the 11th September 1918.

Matth was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on the 8th October 1918.

After his discharge Matt returned home to North Fremantle before heading to Victoria for a few years.

In 1925 he married Mary O'Brien in Victoria and they would have a son called James born in 1940.

In 1930 they returned to Western Australia and In 1931 were living at 16 Point Lane Fremantle and Matt was working as a labourer.

By 1943 they had moved and were living at Tuart Hill. He was still working as a labourer during this period.

Matthew died on the 23rd April 1965 aged 75. He was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery plot ROMAN CATHOLIC FA 0593.