Report in the Staffordshire Advertiser 11th January 1919 regarding the death of Matthew Kavanagh, titled 'Stafford Soldiers Killed on Salvage Work'

"Mrs. Kavanagh of 49, Rowley Street, Stafford, has received intimation of the death of her husband Lance Corporal Matthew Kavanagh of the 7th East Kent Regiment (the Buffs) who was severely wounded in the thigh on December 17 of last year by the accidental explosion of a German shell whilst engaged in salvage work near Cambrai, in France, and succumbed to his injuries three days later. It appears that several men were killed and others wounded by the same explosion. Corporal Kavanagh's wounds were dressed and he was sent to a casualty clearing station. His condition was critical, and he gradually became weaker and passed peacefully away. Sympathetic letters have been received by Mrs. Kavanagh from Sister A. Duncan, in charge of the hospital, and Lieutenant Greenwood, the officer commanding the company, who wrote:- "It is fearfully sad to think your husband should lose his life during armistice. He died like a man. He was an excellent fellow, and I shall miss him greatly."
Corporal Kavanagh who leaves a widow and three young children, the eldest only eight years old, was a native of Whitchurch, Salop. He had been in the employ of Messrs. Higgins and Son, saddlers, Gaol Road, Stafford, for nine years. He had had two years and seven months' service in the war. He enlisted in the Army Service Corps and worked at his trade for some time. He was then transferred to the A.O.C. and later to the East Kent Regiment. He has a brother, Able Seaman John Kavanagh, who has just been demobilized from the Navy. Mrs. Kavanagh has two brothers and two brothers-in-law serving."

Staffordshire Advertiser 11th January 1919