Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
One of the 11 married Auburn Memorial men killed in the 3rd Battle of Ypres (September/October 1917) was Private James Vernon Mathieson, a signwriter who had completed a 5-year apprenticeship with his father in Bathurst.
Mathieson, age ’24 1/12’, a ‘Native of North Sydney’, was the husband of Winifred Mathieson of ‘Beulah’, Park Road, Auburn. Enlisting at Liverpool in February 1916, James was on board the Ceramic two months later. Sailing via Egypt and England, Mathieson arrived on the Western Front in September 1916. He was taken on strength of the 4th Battalion on 23 September 1916.
Mathieson survived for just over one year (less two weeks leave in UK) before dying of wounds on 9 October 1917. He left two children in Auburn, Archibald Richard and Winifred Lydia. He was buried in the Menin Road Military Cemetery on the eastern side of the British fortress town of Ypres (now Ieper) in Belgium.
Mathieson’s widow received her husband’s medals, memorial plaque, memorial scroll and the pamphlet ‘Where the Australians Rest’. She also received a war pension of ￡3/15/- p.f. ￡2 for herself, ￡1 for Archibald and 15/- for Winifred.
James Mathieson is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- British War Medal 1914-20
- Victory Medal
