Alternate name(s):
Bill Matthews
Matviienko; Mitrenko
Date of birth:
Friday, 30 May 1913
Marital status:
single
Ethnicity/Nationality:
Canadian; Russian; Ukrainian
Profession:
miner; professional athlete (amateur boxing champion); labourer
Hometown(s):
Kamsack, Saskatchewan; Sudbury, Ontario; Calgary, Alberta; Blairmore, Alberta
Education:
high school, 4 years; party school, 1.5 months
Political affiliation:
Communist Party of Canada, 1934; Young Communist League, 1935
Approximate date arrived in Spain:
1937-07-15 arrived
Unit:
Mackenzie Papineau Battalion, Company 2: Company commander; Officers' Training School; Lieutenant; Rifle instructor
Final status:
WIA 26 July 1938 at Gandesa: received two rounds through the neck and one through the shoulder; Hospitalized; Survived; Returned to Canada on 3 February 1939 on the Duchess of Richmond; Volunteered to fight in World War II in 1939 but refused entry to the army
Other:
Visited Spain with the Veterans' Delegation in September 1979
Sources:
RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 558, ll. 111-127; RGASPI Fond 545, Opis 6, Delo 543; Momryk; Petrou
