Blayney Shire Local & Family History Group were privileged to accept the donation of a British War Medal from Elaine Fleming of Casula last Thursday at Christchurch, Blayney.
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The medal had been in the estate of her parents, but has no connection to their family.
Mrs Fleming's father was Victor Alfred Crocker.
Despite extensive research into her family history and other families connected to the soldier named on the medal, no obvious connection has been forthcoming and no clues to explain why it should have been in her parent's possession.
One possible link could come from the fact that Victor Crocker spent some time in the Blayney area on a relative's farm during the years of the 1930s depression.
Mrs Fleming wanted the medal to be placed where it would be most valued, and after realising that the soldier had a close connection with Blayney and also Christchurch, first contacted Rev. Anastasia Webster-Hawes for information, who then sought assistance from the Blayney history group.
The medal was awarded for the service of Private Karl Maynard Delahunt Matthews, of the 9th Machine Gun Company during World War I.
Karl was the fourth child of John Delahunt Matthews and his wife Charlotte Elizabeth (nee Woolley).
He was born in Blayney in 1890, received his early education at the Blayney Public School and then attended the Sydney Grammar School.
On leaving school he joined the Commonwealth Bank and was working at the Cessnock branch when he enlisted for service, 99 years ago.
His formal enlistment was completed at Casula on February 7, 1916.
Karl and other reinforcements were sent, first to England and then to France after finishing their initial training in Australia.
He disembarked in France on November 22, 1916.
Karl joined his unit at Chappelle near Armentieres which remained in the area for the rest of the year.
Tragically, Karl was killed on January 22, 1917 when a shell landed on his machine gun post. He was aged 26.
He was subsequently buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery at Armentieres.
Karl's father, J. D. Matthews came to Blayney in 1883 purchasing a Chemist shop which was located where the Blayney florist is today.
He married Charlotte Woolley, whose father George Woolley was an auctioneer operating from a building originally situated on the land where the drive-in to the Tattersall's Hotel bottle shop is situated.
John Matthews remained in Blayney until after the death of his wife, Charlotte, in 1922.
He sold the business and retired to Manly in 1924.
After the death of Karl, a plaque was placed in his memory in the Blayney Anglican Church (Christchurch), and it is also inscribed on the War Memorial Cross in the Church grounds, and on the Blayney War Memorial Gates.
