| Citation: New Year Honours. NCO i/c Punishment Block, MCTC, Colchester, 15 April 1943 to date
Citation: Staff Sergeant MATTHEWs enlisted in the East Surrey Regiment on 15 April 1945, and transferred to MPSC in March, 1953. He has served with his original regiment and the MPSC at various times in INDIA, AUSTRIA, HONG KONG, LIBYA and MALTA.
He was specially selected in January 1962, to be the NCO in charge of the punishment block at the Military Corrective Training Centre, COLCHESTER. This important appointment is one of the most difficult in the MPOSC for it involves dealing, all the time, with the most awkward and obstinate as well as some of the lowest principled soldiers and airmen under sentence.
Staff Sergeant MATTHEWS has at all times maintained a scrupulously correct manner and exactly the right balance between severity and understanding in his handling of soldiers under sentence. He has set a very high example to the NCOs under his command and it it largely due to his efforts that the reputation of the punishment block is as high as it is..
In addition to carrying out his normal duties in a superlative manner, he has achieved outstandingly good results in his handling of a number of recalcitrant but misguided soldiers under sentence. It is in this particular sphere, that he has rendered above average service to the army as a whole and this Corps in particular. As a result of his tact, patience, understanding and excellent man management, a number of soldiers are now completing their engagements in the normal way, who before being placed in his charge might well have been discharged for misconduct.
Recommended by: Lt/Col. Commandant, MCTC, Brig. PM (Army), Maj-Gen. Director of Personal Services, War Office. |
