Claude Leonard Matthews

Born in 1877, he was educated at Eton and was commissioned from the Militia in 1898 and joined the 1st Battalion DLI. During the Boer War, he served with the Mounted Infantry and was badly wounded in 1901.

At the start of the Great War, he was in India with 1 DLI but in 1916 he left to command the 4 Hampshire Regiment in Mesopotamia. He was wounded and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1919.

After the war, he commanded the DLI Depot and then 1 DLI before he retired in 1934.

From 1940-47, he served as Colonel of the Regiment DLI.

Claude Matthews died in 1967.

"He was undoubtedly one of the greatest Battalion Commanders the Regiment has ever had".