Alexander Matheson

Died of Wounds on the 26/09/1918 at the 94th Field Ambulance

The 32nd Siege Battery arrived in France on the 01/10/1915. Alexander is listed as MATHESON on the Coatbridge Memorial and the Family Plot and MATHIESON on his Grave and with the CWGC and his Service Records. Alexander Died of Wounds to the abdomen. He had previously spent 110 days in 4 hospitals in 1917 with shoulder blade problems and other fractures. The role of the Siege Battery : Siege Batteries RGA were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells in high trajectory, plunging fire. The usual armaments were 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway- or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines. The armaments of each battery will be given as details are added. The Battery would include - Personnel : 5 Officers and 177 other ranks, Horses : 17 riding, 6 draught and 80 heavy draught, Transport : 3 two-horse carts, 10 four-horse wagons. Among Alexander's trench belongings were letters, photos, cards, cigarette case, a wristwatch and a wallet (see Service Record 14). Alexander was reburied in Meteren Military Cemetery. He is also remembered on the Coatbridge Technical College and Trinity Parish Churches Rolls of Honour and at the Family Plot in Old Monkland Cemetery (see photos). See photos for Alexander's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Meteren Military Cemetery, another photo of Alexander's grave, his Pension Record, the Royal Garrison Artillery Cap Badge and Alexander's Service Records x 18.