Matthew studied Medicine at the University of Toronto from 1911 to 1912, but when war broke out in 1914 he was working for the Canadian Northern Railway as a surveyor.
In August of 1914, he joined the Governor General’s Body Guard Militia. By November he had enlisted in the 4th Mounted Rifles, part of the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force.
On Matthew’s Attestation Papers dated November 28, 1914 he gave his “Trade or Calling” as “Surveyor”. He belonged to the G.G.B.G. Militia. At his Medical Examination on 25 November, he was described as 22 years 4 months, Height 6 feet, Eyes Grey, Hair Brown.” He was certified as fit for service.

The University of Toronto Roll of Service tells us that he went overseas in the spring of 1915, and reached France in October of 1915, where he served as Signaler on the front lines south of Ypres and in the Salient. On June 2nd, 1916, at Sanctuary Wood he was wounded and taken prisoner as he was trying to save his signalling apparatus. “But for that delay he might have escaped.” It was several weeks before his family in Unionville heard of his fate.