Mr Mathews

Maker and role
Photographer: Tyree Studio (estab. 1878, closed 1947)
Photo collection reference number
93371 See full details

Object Detail

Description

Head and shoulders studio portrait of a man in military uniform. Thought to be Private Peter Joseph Mathews (serial no. 16484). Mathews was born on 21 April 1896 in Nelson, New Zealand. On the Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph database his next of kin is listed as G. Mathews (father), Haven Road, Nelson, New Zealand. Mathews worked as a labourer for Kirkpatrick & Co in Nelson before he enlisted for service during World War One. he embarked with the 15th Reinforcements Specialist Machine-Gun Section on 26 July 1916 from Wellington, New Zealand for Devonport, England. He served for just over a year in Western Europe. The last unit he served in was the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion. Mathews died of wounds on 5 October 1917 in Belgium. He was twenty-one years old. Mathews is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinge, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Object type

glass plate negative

Media and materials

Glass Monochrome/Media/Photography
half plate/glass plate/Format/Photography

Collection

Tyree Studio Collection

Names/keywords

World War, 1914-1918

Maker

Tyree Studio; 1878; 1947

Maker biography

Tyree Studio: early promoters of the Nelson image.

The museum is best known for the Tyree Studio Collection (1882-1947) of approximately 105,000 images of studio portraits, civic occasions and scenic views. This collection has been in the care of the museum since 1974 and also includes negatives, from other photographers, bought by the Tyree Studio.

The Tyree brothers were well-placed to take advantage of new photographic technology and put it to use taking scenic photographs around the region.

William and Frederick Tyree came to New Zealand from England with their parents in 1871.

The brothers were involved in gold exploration and engineering in Queenstown. They later moved to Nelson, and in 1878 began a photographic business in Trafalgar Street.

The Tyrees acted as early advocates for Nelson as a tourist destination and by 1895, William had expanded the business again to include tourist promotional images. He left for Sydney and continued to work as an inventor from c1910. Fred established a studio in Golden Bay. He was also a farmer and ran the Collingwood Hotel at various times.

Although the brothers had established and developed the Tyree Studio, for the majority of its years it was run by Rosaline (Rose) Margaret Frank (1864-1954) who started work with them at the age of twenty one. Rose Frank became the central figure in the Tyree Studio, managing the business for fifty two years, owning it from 1914.

(http://www.museumnp.org.nz/photographic/photography.htm)

Subjects

World War, 1914-1918

Subject person

Peter Joseph Mathews; 21 Apr 1896; 05 Oct 1917

Credit line

Mr Mathews. Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio Collection: 93371

Collection type

Photographic Pictorial

Colours

Subject Auto Tags

Photograph Portrait Photography Headgear Stock photography Vintage clothing Hat

Related objects

Comments

Also refer to Nelson Museum photographs 89808 & 89809.

- Jenifer

Posted on 09-02-2017 08:12:30

Private Peter Joseph Mathews (1896-1917) was the younger brother of Lance Sergeant John Patrick Mathews (1892-1917): NZEF Service #10/3646 of the Wellington Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 9th Reinforcements, NZEF. Peter and John would both die within 1 day of each other at Passchendaele, Belgium : John was killed in action on 4 October 1917 at Passchendaele, Belgium (aged 25 years) and Peter would die of wounds 1 day later - on 5 October 1917 - also at Passchendaele, Belgium (aged 21 years).