Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Army, SGT, The Highlanders, 4th Btn,
The Royal Rgt of Scotland
7/28/2008, Afghanistan, Marjah
Sergeant Jonathan ‘Jon’ Mathews was born in Edinburgh on 6th September 1972. At the age of 21 he decided to join the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) and on completion of basic training was posted to Fort George, Inverness.
A few years later, he moved to Glencorse where he met his wife Shona, later marrying her in Edinburgh Castle. A proud Scottish warrior, he climbed the ranks swiftly, undertaking demanding military courses at Brecon and Warminster along the way.
Quickly singled out as a man with significant potential, Jon was selected for training as a Sniper and a reconnaissance soldier. With experience on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo behind him, he moved to The Infantry Training Centre in Catterick as a recruit instructor, a job for which he was tailor-made.
In July 2006 he was posted to The Highlanders in Fallingbostel as a rifle platoon sergeant in D Company. He made immediate impact, quickly earning a strong reputation as a capable soldier with a compassionate touch.
When the call came for the Battalion to provide mentors to serve alongside the Afghan Army as part of the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment Battle Group, Sergeant Mathews was quick to step up. He knew the importance of the role and was determined to employ his now vast experience and play his part; his enthusiasm was unstoppable. He died doing the job he loved, leading others by example.
Beyond the Army he was a keen sports parachutist, a canoeist and a hill walker, all sports that captured his love of the outdoors and his sense of adventure. But more than anything else, Jon was a family man who was passionate about Edinburgh, his wife and his family.