International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln
Commemorating Mathesons Killed in Action
Angus Matheson has been in touch to share insights about members of the Clan gained on visits to IBCC - indeed he has lent items to IBCC for exhibition which had belonged to his mother’s only brother, Finlay Macrae, who was killed in action over Berlin in 1943.
Initial examination of the memorial wall names identified 9 Airmen with the surname spelt Matheson and 4 spelt Mathieson, which seemed a considerable number, and this led Angus to pose the question "Has this ever been researched?"
David Mathieson - who served on 100 Squadron in the early 80s - comments:
"No one has researched the IBCC archive yet for Clan Matheson. I agree, quite a few Clan names, I suspect many would have hailed from the Commonwealth. Bomber Command losses were more than 44% killed in action with a further 15% not returning to service such as the wounded and POWs."
Angus recently received some further correspondence from the International Bomber Command Centre regarding “Mathesons” who were were killed in action.
The list can be searched on surname in the following application:
Losses Database - International Bomber Command Centre
The results for 'Matheson' number 16: Matheson Losses
The results for 'Mathieson' number 7: Mathieson Losses
The results for 'Mathison' number 4: Mathison Losses
Angus observes:
"As we both imagined, there are many of the servicemen who were from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
My mother’s brother, Finlay Macrae, was in No 44 “Rhodesia" Squadron, so called because of the money raised by Rhodesians and the number of aircrew who came from this country. It makes you stop and think how many young men came half way across the world to fight on behalf of a country that their parents or grandparents had emigrated from."
A word from David about the survivors who stayed in touch with later members of 100 Squadron:
"The old boys of the WW2 Sqn used to pitch up at our mess at RAF Wyton in 3 piece suits and bowler hats!!"
Angus has also shared some excellent photos which he took of the IBCC Memorial and the “Men of Dams” exhibition which can be viewed by clicking the image below. You may need to enter an e-mail address to get access.
Image: The 'Standing With Giants' art installation, commemorating the Falkland’s Conflict,
created by artist, Dan Barton, pictured when it was hosted at the IBCC
Source: https://internationalbcc.co.uk/
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Spotlight on CLAN MATHESON
This History Scotland article from 2017 gives a 'taster' profile of the Matheson Clan and of the Clan Matheson Society
https://www.historyscotland.com/articles/societies-and-clans/spotlight-on-the-clan-matheson-uk-society
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MATHESON - MATTHIJSSE FROM HOLLAND
We were contacted by Marianne Matthijsse and here is a link to their Matheson-Matthijsse website.
We hope you enjoy it, but do contact her if you have any questions.
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Traditional Sites of Matheson History in Lochalsh
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Margaret Fleming's Book (Australia Branch)
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Alister Farquhar Matheson's Book
Scotland’s North West Frontier
Below is Alister Farquhar Matheson's book. We are unable to secure sales of this worthwhile book for our website, but you are still encouraged to buy the book through on-line book stalls at a very reasonable price. The list of Matheson entries in the index runs to almost a page in two columns.
Description:
'The Western coastal lands of the Northern Highlands are squeezed between the northern Hebrides & Drumalban mountainous spine of Scotland. This is a region Justly famed for some of the finest and most unspoilt scenery in the British Isles - but what happened here in times past? For a long time this was a frontier zone, firstly between the medieval kingdoms of Norway and Scotland, and then between the Gaelic Lords of the Isles and the Scottish kings. Later this remote seaboard was the last hiding place in Britain for Bonnie Prince Charlie after the collapse of his hopes at the Battle of Culloden. A land of clans & lost causes, this is the story of powerful lords and warrior chiefs, Presbyterian soldiers of the Covenant and Hanoverian redcoats, Highland Clearances, road and railway builders, whisky smugglers and opium traders, across eight centuries from Viking times to the beginning of the 21st century.'
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Picture of I.M.A. Matheson
Anyone claim to be related to IMA Matheson who was at Winchester College in 1913? He joined the Lothians and Border Horse during World War 1, and afterwards continued in military service. In 1919 he was Mentioned in Dispatches, and at some point he was awarded the OBE, Croix de Guerre, and the Serbian Order of the White Eagle. This picture is hanging in an Antique Shop in Lincolnshire. Please contact david.mathieson@clanmatheson.org for more information.
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Loch Achaidh-na-h-Inich
Loch Achaidh-na-h-Inich is in the region of the ancestral Lochalsh Matheson estate. There are the remains of a fort, which is of a size appropriate to that of a local Chieftain, and of a Crannog. The loch may be viewed by dragging the figure to the road near the pointer.