George William

DETAILS OF DEATH

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.