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Sheffield Hero: The Life of Captain Matt Shepard

‘Sheffield Hero: The Life of Captain Matt Sheppard’ by J P Craddock is a biography of ‘Sheffield’s oldest and greatest war veteran’.

Captain Matt Sheppard, easily recognised by his magnificent moustache, led the ex-servicemen’s parades on Armistice Day in Sheffield for forty years.

The book charts his life from serving with the Yorkshire Dragoons’ squadron of the Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War through his political career and work with the Royal British Legion.

In 1912 he was elected the first Conservative councillor for Brightside Ward, unbelievably, by a single vote! Soon after the outbreak of the Great War, Matt was granted a commission and in 1916 he personally assisted a battalion by clearing a trench of the enemy with his machine gun. For this act of bravery he received the commanding officer’s congratulations and the Military Cross.

In 1921 Matt was appointed the first chairman of the Sheffield branch of the Royal British Legion. In recognition of his work for ex-servicemen he was awarded the OBE in 1926 and the British Legion’s Gold Badge in 1951.

During the notorious Sheffield Gang Wars, Matt was appointed a magistrate until, as the City’s oldest JP, he retired in 1948. Matt’s funeral was held at St Cuthbert’s church in Fir Vale where he had worked as a voluntary worker since its dedication in 1902. An obituary in Sheffield’s Morning Telegraph described him as ‘undoubtedly Sheffield’s oldest and greatest war veteran’.

The A4, 124 page book, includes photographs and illustrations. Retail Price £11.99. ISBN No. 1-905278-14-4

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