Angus Matheson worked as a shepherd for the New Zealand Refrigeration Company at Hawarden in Canterbury, and enlisted in October 1916 aged 32. His parents were Annie Matheson and John Matheson of Boath, Allness, Rossshire in Scotland.
Angus was one of two Mathesons from New Zealand to die in the same battle on the same day: at Passchendaele on 12 October 1917, the darkest day in New Zealand’s military history. (James Weir Matheson was the other.) He had been with the Canterbury Regiment at the Western Front for just two months. According to his personnel file Angus Matheson was buried at Passchendaele (as reported two days later by the 2nd Anzac Burial Corps), but the location of the grave must have become lost during the course of the battle as he is commemorated in the list of the missing at Tyne Cot Memorial.
Angus is also remembered on a family gravestone in Alness cemetery, Ross-shire, Scotland. The inscription reads: “also in loving memory of our dear son and brother Angus, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, killed 12th Oct. 1917 on Bellevue Spur near Passchendaele, aged 31 years”.
Three sons who died on active service are commemorated — as well as Angus, Alexander Donald (7/1098) who died in New Zealand in 1919, and James who was wounded in Palestine in 1917 and died as a prisoner of war.
Sources:
Sun newspaper, Christchurch, via Papers Past
Memorial plaque from New Zealand War Graves Project
Clan Matheson Society New Zealand newsletter July 1995
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