In Memory of
 Captain, MATTHEWS, WILLIAM HENRY,
168685, 61 Anti-Tank Rgt.
Royal Artillery
Captain
who died age 25
on 21st July 1943

Son of William Carpenter Matthews and Alice Maud Matthews, of Kenton, Middlesex.
Head Prefect and School Captain of Willesden Technical College. Schools Boxing Championship, 1933.

The following record is an extract of detail from the record of 61st (Highland) Anti-Tank Regiment RA in the Sicily Campaign.

July 20th.

An attack by 154 Bde on GERBINI was decided upon for this night. The attack was to be done by 7th A & S.H. supported by 'B' Tp and 1/2 'A' Tp (Pheasants) of 241b Bty and a squadron of 40 R.T.R. All did not go too well and the situation on first light on 21st was most confused. Two guns of 'B' Tp were sent round to the right via the Aerodrome with orders to deploy in the area of the x rds firing North and N.E. Capt.W.H. Matthews went to recce posns for these guns and was not seen alive again. The two pheasants were deployed on the start line at the A Tk Ditch.
An enemy counter attack was successful and it was decided to withdraw to the line of the A Tk ditch. This was eventually done and the two 6 pdrs in GERBINI and the Pheasant of 'L' Troop which had been put in action North of the A Tk Ditch were over run by the enemy.
The two 6 pdrs of 'B' Troop which were sent to GERBINI were later found at the cross roads as had been ordered with many expended cartridge cases around them.
It was decided that GERBINI was too much of a thorn in the flesh to be so close to 154's left flank and accordingly 154 was withdrawn to hold the bridgehead only at LION crossing without pushing out far to the East.
A Battalion of Royal Marines came under comd at this time with the role of pushing out to the North West from 153 Bde Area and obtain a bridgehead called JAGUAR near MASS PARLATO supported by 'E' Tp of 242 Bty and 'H' Tp of 193 Bty. The crossing was made assisted by 'H' Tp who did some effective shooting against M.Gs but later the Marines withdrew under heavy mortar and shell fire without informing the A Tk Gunners - however the guns were recovered.
During all this time we had been suffering considerable casualties to guns and vehicles from both enemy action and the nature of the terrain. In order to keep up our strength of weapons, three German 75mm PAIC were incorporated in 193 Bty and 'H' Tp was rendered immobile to make other Btys up.