CORPORAL R. MATEER, SHROPSHIRE YEOMANRY (DRAGOONS), LATE 8TH BATTALION LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS, WHO SAW SERVICE IN GALLIPOLI WITH THE 8TH LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS. Territorial Efficiency Medal, George V (partially re-engraved naming, officially impressed: 160726. CPL. and additionally engraved in plain block capitals: R. MATEER. DRAGOONS). Small edge bruise to obverse rim at 5 o'clock, otherwise Almost Extremely Fine.
Medal accompanied by biographical details and copied WW1 Medal Index card and medal rolls, which confirm Mateer also entitled 1914-15 Star trio.
Richard Mateer, born July 1895 in Salford, Lancashire, was the son of Samuel and Eliza Mateer. He is recorded in the 1911 census as a 15 year old engraver employed by a calico printer.
WW1 Medal Index card and medal rolls confirm that Mateeer first saw service during WW1 as a Private with the 8th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and first saw service in the Egypt, entering that theatre of operations on 26/9/1914 (the 8th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers sailed from Southampton for Egypt on 9/9/1914, arrived at Alexandria on 25/9/1914, disembarking there the following day. The battalion subsequently saw service in Gallipoli, landing there on 5/5/1915. Medal Index card confirms that Mateer next saw service during WW1 as 160726 Private with the Shropshire Yeomanry (the Shropshire Yeomanry embarked for Egypt on 4/3/1916, seeing service in Egypt and Palestine with the Western Frontier Force). The Shropshire Yeomanry transferred to the French theatre of operations in May 1918 and landed at Marseille on 7/5/1918.
Richard Mateer was resident in Egypt in the late 1930s, employed as an engraver. He embarked for England at Port Said, just prior to the outbreak of WW2, arriving at Portsmouth on 14/7/1939. Mateer is recorded in the 1939 Register as a 39 year old married die sinker and engraver living in Stockport, and a member of the Special Constabulary, "War Reserve Police Stockport". Richard Mateer died in Stockport, Cheshire, in September 1967, aged 72.