Corporal RICHARD ALEXANDER MATHESON NX35985, A.I.F. 2/3 Pnr. Bn., Australian Infantry who died age 31 on 31 October 1942 Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Matheson, of New South Wales, Australia. Remembered with honour EL ALAMEIN WAR CEMETERY CWGC :: Cemetery Details
Via the AWM ROH: Studio portrait of NX35985 Private Richard Alexander (Dick) Matheson, 2/3 Pioneer Battalion, of Wagga Wagga and Rosewood, NSW. A farrier in civilian life, Pte Matheson enlisted in 1939 in Corryong, Vic, as a trooper in 8th Light Horse Regiment (a militia unit) with the service number V23024. On 29 June 1940 in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Pte Matheson enlisted in the army. Later promoted to the rank of corporal, he was killed in action on 26 November 1941 at El Alamein, aged 31.
More from the AWM collection: Composite studio portrait of NX35985 Private (Pte) Richard Alexander (Dick) Matheson (left), 2/3 Pioneer Battalion, and his brother NX35398 Pte William John Matheson, 2/19 Battalion, both of Wagga Wagga and Rosewood, NSW. A farrier in civilian life, Pte Richard Matheson enlisted in 1939 in Corryong, Vic, as a trooper in 8th Light Horse Regiment (a militia unit) with the service number V23024. On 29 June 1940 in Wagga Wagga, NSW, Pte Matheson enlisted in the army. Later promoted to the rank of corporal, he was killed in action on 26 November 1941 at El Alamein, aged 31. Pte William Matheson enlisted on 19 June 1940. He was killed in action on 20 January 1942 in Malaya, aged 24.
AWM unit profile: The 2/3rd moved to Bir Abu Shinena, part of the “Alamein box”, at the start of August and became attached to the 24th Brigade. The pioneers replaced the 2/28th Infantry Battalion, which had suffered heavy casualties, and went into reserve. They helped defend the area and improve the defences before the Allied counter-attack in October. The battalion played a prominent role in the heavy fighting around areas known as the “Saucer” and the “Blockhouse”. The operation was carried out at the end of October by two battalions from the 26th Brigade, a battalion from the 24th Brigade, three companies from the 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion, and a number of British tanks. The 2/3rd was directed to attack 3,000 yards directly north from the Saucer and take up a blocking position in the dunes near the coast. In the early hours of 30 October the pioneers had travelled only halfway when they were blocked by supporting artillery bombardment. Forced to leave their heavy weapons and ammunition behind in trucks, the pioneers continued on. At the break of dawn, however, they found themselves in another saucer, subject to enemy fire from three sides. But they had achieved their goal and virtually sealed-off the enemy in the coastal salient. For the next two days the Australians defended their exposed positions. Many of their front positions were either captured or ground down by repeated German attacks. In the main Saucer, however, the Germans had less success, even though the eastern part of the Australian defence was pushed back south of the railway line. Fighting continued for the next couple of days and German forces were worn down. By 5 November Axis forces were falling back. Between August and November the battalion suffered 28 men killed and 46 captured. Alamein was a vital, although bloody, success for the Allies and one of the war’s turning points.
