Shortly after 6pm on 16 May, 1943, Constables Matthews and Emslie were on duty in Campbell Street, Sydney. They intervened in a brawl outside the Capitol Theatre where they had seen two men kicking a man on the ground. When they arrested the assailants, the crowd turned on them and both Constables were assaulted. Constable Matthews received injuries to his nose and left eye, and as a result, reported off duty on sick report. Unfortunately his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to the Sydney Hospital where he passed away on 31 July, 1943.
The Constable was born in 1917 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 3 July, 1939. At the time of his death, he was stationed at Central Police Station.'