Private 2455, “G” Coy. 1st/14th Bn. London Regiment (London Scottish).
Killed in action on Monday 25th January 1915, age 37.
Remembered on Le Touret Memorial, France.
Former student of Technology (Chemistry).
Matthew Kirkwood was born in 1878 to Allan and Margaret Kirkwood, of Darnley, Nitshill, Renfrewshire. His parents were the owners of Arden Lime Works. In 1891 he was living at Darnley House with his many siblings. He was educated at Glasgow High School and Glasgow Technical College. He played rugby football for the school, college and Partickhill teams.
Matthew became a brewer. In 1901 he was boarding at 98 Moor Street, Burton Upon Trent, with a retired gamekeeper called Henry Shore, 50, and his sister Susan, 45.
For the academic year 1906-07, now employed by Whittle and Brewery Company, Chorley, he registered on 1st year Technological (City & Guilds) course. He was twice awarded the medal for brewing chemistry in the City and Guilds Examination London.
At the outbreak of the War he resided in Parsons Green, London working as a chemist and brewer. He went to France in September and was killed in action on 25th January 1915.
At the time of his death three of his brothers were also serving. One of them, George Norman Kirkwood, is remembered on The University of Glasgow website. George served in the Royal Army Medical Corps and survived the war.