Family & Other Stories

Family Stories - John Holden

Jacob Mattana

The husband of my great-aunt (who was in effect more of a 'grandmother' to us) had survived WW1 (but died 5 years before I was born). I had always understood that he was one of not many of his regiment that had survived. However, I knew no more than that.

In conversation, Andrew Ferry enthusiastically told me what enormous resources there were on the internet. As he had an unusual name - Jacob Mattana - I Googled 'Mattana WW1' there and then, and was amazed instantly to find his war record, in 13 pages, on a Jewish WW1 website - including his chest measurement!

link to Jacob Mattana's war record (opens in new window)

He was in the TA (Honourable Artillery Company, in the City) and survived Arras, Ypres and in Italy.