Major Don Matthews

[A&SRHQ]

I'm sorry to have to tell you that Don passed away this morning at 6.10am - we will post the funeral details when known

[martin Hargraves]

It is with great sadness that I announce the Passing of a long serving member of the LofF, Don Matthews, he passed away this morning at the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. We will post information for his funeral as it comes in, we believe it will be at Chelsea in a few weeks time. Our thoughts go to his family and friends at this sad time.

[Rog Ball 01]

Don was a person who got on with everybody. He was always proud of the Regiment, regardless of where he was.

You are now at peace Don

Roger

[Dai 55]

Very sad news,does anyone have any more info of when Don served,
Dai 55

[Braz]

Condolences to to the Late Maj Don Mathew's family from all at the Denbigh Branch of the Royal Welch Fusiliers Comrades Association. Braz

[ap1]

Very sad, a true gentleman and great loss to the regiment. I'd been attending the League of Friends dinners for about 10 years, always having a chat with Don and his wife when we met. I'd always assumed Don was a product of the regiment in the early 1950's. I believe at some point he was the BOR Sgt, so I suppose I made a lot of assumptions. Anyway, in the Cardiff LOF in 2008. I was sat in the bar with Don on the saturday afternoon, we started chatting about his military service, I was dumbfounded, when he told me he joined the 2nd Battalion in Burma in 1944 and fought the Japanese along the Burma Railway. He never really spoke about it, which is typical of his generation. Its a privilege to have spent some small period of time in his company.

[keith may]

On behalf of the cardiff branch rwca we wish to sent our condolences to dons family
i knew don from our time on the executive committee rwf.
Rest in peace don from keith may

[Lofty-25]

It is with a heavy heart that i read about Major Don Matthews, i saw him last Thursday (090611) while attending the Founders Day at the Royal Chelsea Hospital

When i joined the RWFCA, it was Don that wrote me a hand written letter inviting me to come to the next London Branch meeting (Jan 2010), as the date got closer and closer he would ring me and ask if i would be attending and how to get there. When i got there, there was Don outside the Chelsea Gate entrance waiting for me, and as if he knew me said "hello Lofty, nice to meet you", he took me to the our pre-meeting room (the Pensioners bar) and bought me a pint and then made a toast "to the Regiment", then as the other members came in he introduced me to them and made me feel most welcome

After each meeting we you go back to the bar and have a natter, most of us would just sit there and listen to Don remember names, last two, last four numbers of Battalion members from all those years ago (i thought was quite astounding for an 85 year old)


A true Royal Welchman

R.I.P Don

[tony48]

r.i.p. don a true gentleman and royal welchman god bless you.

wayne

[jungle1810]

Hello
, R.I.P. Don you will always be remembered by Royal Welch men every where.. A true gentleman.Our sympathy goes out to all his friends and family.
From all at Bridgend R.W.F.C.A.
R B D aka jungle1810