Sergeant Michael Bryan Matthews was fatally injured by a bomb on 27 July 1988 leading a joint army and police patrol. He was entering the village of Cullyhanna, South Armagh, when an improvised device hidden by the road exploded. He died 24 hours later.

Sgt Matthews had served 18 years with the Regiment  and was on his fourth tour of Northern Ireland. He had also served in the Falklands as Milan Detachment Commander with 3 PARA.

Sgt Matthews had instructed on small arms and the Milan at Warminster and Netheravon. He had spent the last twelve months with 1 PARA's Machine Gun Platoon and had been married for less than a year at the time of his death.

Michael was laid to rest at Weymouth Cemetery, Dorset. 

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