Godfrey Estcourt Matthews

(Godfrey) Estcourt Matthews was commissioned in the Royal Marines on 1 September 1884. His pre-war career was dominated by service with the Egyptian Army, to which he was seconded in January 1897. Apart from a few months he served in Egypt for sixteen years.

When the European War broke out he was commanding the RM Depot at Deal. He commanded the Plymouth Battalion, Royal Naval Division, in the Gallipoli campaign, where he was wounded and made CMG. Matthews was promoted to brigade command on 8 June 1916 as GOC 198th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division TF. At the age of 50, he was quite old to get a brigade, though at the time of his appointment his formation was still at home. 198th Brigade did not go abroad until February 1917.

Brigadier-General Matthews was wounded by a shell explosion at Cambrin on 12 April and died the following day. He was the 32nd British general to be killed in action or to die of wounds on the Western Front. He is buried in Béthune Town Cemetery, France. 198th Brigade took no part in major offensive operations while under Matthews’ command.