Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Susan Summerland, a hosiery trade worker, born 1843 in Oadby, Leicestershire. Matthias was a schoolboy and was born in the 2nd quarter of 1885 in Oadby, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Ann Jane, a hosiery trade worker, born 1873 and Harry, a schoolboy, born in the 4th quarter of 1882, the latter two siblings were both born in Oadby, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was at Main Road, Oadby, Leicestershire. In March 1901 Matthias was employed as a boot and shoe trade clicker and was residing in the family home at London Road, Oadby, Leicestershire, together with his mother, a Griswold machinist and brother Harry, a shoe trade riveter. In April 1911 Matthias was serving as a soldier with the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment and was stationed at Fort St. George, Madras, India. His elder brother Harry, also fell in action. Matthias attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement of 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve on the 21st August 1906 in Leicester. He gave his place of birth as Oadby, Leicestershire and his age as 20 years and 3 months, he gave his trade or calling as shoe hand. He gave his mother Susan and brother Harry of 3, Fern Bank, Oadby, Leicestershire and his sister Mrs A. Lane of King Street, Oadby, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 7½ inches in height, weighed 123 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 31½ and 34½ inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was light brown and he had grey eyes. It was noted that he had a mole on the left side of his chin. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was pronounced fit for Army service. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 7973 on the 21/8/06. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Shorncliffe on the 27/11/06 – 6/11/07. Posted to the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 6/11/07. Embarked aboard H. T. Assaye on the 6/11/07 – 28/11/07. Belgaum, India on the 30/11/07 – 11/2/11. Madras, India on the 13/2/11 – 4/2/13. Bareilly, India on the 11/2/13 – 13/3/13. Ranikhet, India on the 18/3/13 – 19/12/13. Awarded the St. John Ambulance Association Certificate for “First Aid to the Injured” on the 23/3/12. Awarded the St. John Ambulance Association “Sanitation Certificate” on the 29/3/12. Awarded the 3rd Class Certificate of Education on the 29/8/13. Transferred to “A” Reserve on the 9/1/14. Mobilized on the 5/8/14. Posted to the 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 20/8/14. Killed in action, place not known on the 25/10/14. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 21/8/06 – 5/11/07, 1 year 77 days. India, 6/11/07 – 9/12/13, 6 years 34 days. Home Service, 10/12/13 – 25/10/14, 320 days. Total service 8 years 66 days. Matthias was awarded the 1914 Star, British and Victory Medals. The following information was provided by Matthias’s mother on the 15th April 1919, and was witnessed and signed by J. Rains, the Vicar of Oadby, The Vicarage, Oadby, Leicestershire on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Susan Summerland of Fern Bank, Oadby, Leicestershire. Full blood brothers of soldier, none. Full blood sisters of soldier, Mrs. A. Lane, age 45 of 47, Regent Street, Oadby, Leicestershire. Matthias’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 25 Oct-14. (Sunday). At the CHEMICAL FACTORY at RUE DU BOIS, the Germans had attempted to rush the trenches at dawn, but were beaten back with great loss, shelled intermittently all day. 2 Platoon of “D” Company were driven out by enfilade fire at about 9.00am, but retrieved the position by dusk, ordered to retire during night. Trench line was reinforced by 1 Company EAST YORKSHIRE REGT and 2 Platoons of the RIFLE BRIGADE during the day. “A” Company’s line was not seriously attacked. Casualties two Officers wounded, twenty two other ranks killed, sixty eight wounded and ninety eight missing.
On Friday November 27th 1914 The Leicester Journal published the following article under the heading. “THE ROLL OF HONOUR.” – Private M. Summerland, of the 1st Leicester’s, was killed in action on October 24th. His mother resides at 1, Firs Bank, Oadby.
On Saturday November 28th 1914 The Leicester Chronicle and Leicestershire Mercury published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL ROLL OF HONOUR. – BROTHERS WHO DIED FOR KING AND COUNTRY. We have been furnished with the following particulars of casualties to local men: – Two brothers, whose home was at Drayton, Leicestershire, have been killed fighting for their country. One was Arthur Edward Stokes, an Able Seaman (Reservist), who was on the Good Hope, lost on November 1. He was aged 25. His brother, Private Edgar Stokes, also a Reservist, of C Company, 1st Northamptonshire Regiment, was killed in action at Ypres on October 31. He was aged 27, and was formerly in the Birmingham City Police force. Their father, Mr. G. T. Stokes of Drayton, writes notifying those of the sad loss, and adds with reference to the soldiers and sailors generally. “We ought to be proud of our men’s splendid conduct, and of their cheerful and enduring pluck.” Information has reached Leicester that Private George Wilcox, of B Company, 1st Leicestershire Regiment, was killed in action on October 24th. Private Wilcox was born at Oadby, was 24 years of age, and had been in the army for six years. His home was at 18, Marston Street. Private M. Summerland, of the 1st Leicesters, was also killed in action on October 24th. Formerly engaged at the Post Office, he served four years in India, and was on the reserve when the war began. His mother resides at 1, Fern Bank, Oadby. A muffled peal was rung at Oadby Church on Sunday as a token of respect for the two men, who were both members of the Oadby Rugby Football team. It may be added that there are no less than a dozen of last season’s team still serving their country.