Description
Royal Naval Officer Masonic jewel medal group, some named to Brother C.L.P. Matheson. Charity & Benevolence Institute, Steward for R.M.I.B, 1959, Steward for R.M.I.G, 1954. etc.
Colin Lister Picton Matheson was the son of Colin Lister Matheson and was born on 17 November 1900 in Malaya. Educated at St. Andrews School, Singapore, he went into business joining subsidiary companies of Jardine Matheson in the Far East, initially Ejineo Company Ltd and later the Borneo Company Ltd where he spent the bulk of his prewar career.
He was a founding member of the Malayan Magic Circle formed in 1935 performing magic shows to the British military and other organisations in Singapore and Johore. He was also a local football referee; there are numerous mentions of him in the Singapore and Malayan newspapers of the period.
Commissioned Sub Lieutenant in the Straits Settlements Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve on 7 May 1934, which had been formed in Singapore on 27 April 1934. Its HQ ship from 1935 was the sloop Laburnum which arrived from New Zealand with its Kiwi crest and was berthed in the Telok Ayer basin. In 1934 the Straits Settlements RNVR consisted of 25 Officers and 150 mostly Malay ratings. By 1939 it had expanded to 100 officers and 300 ratings with a Penang section established under Commander Alexander RN.
Advanced to Temp. Paymaster Lieutenant on 23 December 1939 he was posted to Sultan, the Singapore shore base.
Fortuitously for Matheson he left Singapore prior to the invasion by the Japanese in 1942, postings included Lanka, Tana, Clio (confidential book and cypher duties), ending the Second World War on Yeoman.
For his WW2 service he was awarded the 1939-45 Star; Burma Star and War Medal 1939-45.
medals:
- 1830 Duke of Sussex Charity Jewel with Buckinghamshire plaque and 9ct gold band, in box of issue, named on rim to: BRO. C.L.P. MATHESON. Served as Steward R.M.B.I. 1953 R.M.I.G 1954. R.M.B. 1959. 9ct.
- Royal Masonic Hospital Medal, IN BOX OF ISSUE, named on rear to: BRO. C.L.P. MATHESON NO. 1901, 1963-64
- Selwyn Chapter No 1901 masonic jewel, silver hallmarked, named on rear to: Presented to C. COMP. C.L.P. MATHESON IN APPRECIATION OF HIS SERVICES AS 72ND M.E.Z. 1963-64.
- R.M.I.G. 1954 Steward jewel.
- 1959 R.M.I.B. Province of Durham jewel.
- Companions Breast Jewel.
- R.M.B.I. 1953 jewel
