Cyril Kidger

Cyril was called up in March 1916. He served at first with the Prince of Wales's (North Stafordshire ) Regiment and after training at Chelmsford he was drafted to France during November 1916.He was later transferred to the 1st battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers. At the time of his death Cyril would have been fighting in the area around Etricourt which was occupied by Commonwealth troops since the beginning of April 1917 during the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line. He was wounded in the stomach and knee on 21st November 1917 and died of his wounds the next day at the 21st Casualty Clearing Station.Cyril was buried in the Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, Somme, France The cemetery was begun in 1917 and used until March 1918, mainly by the 21st and 48th Casualty Clearing Stations posted at Ypres. He was 22 years of age. He is also remembered on the St Michael and All Angels War Memorial, Sutton-in-Ashfield. Cyril was awarded the British War and Victory Medals. An article in the Notts Free Press dated 7th December 1917 reads Private Cyril Kidger, Sutton Official news has been received of the death of Private Cyril Kidger, of Park Street Sutton, which took place on November 22nd, he was 22 years of age, and prior to being called up in March 1916 was an apprentice with Mr Massey, plumber, etc. After being trained at Chelmsford, Private Kidger, who was attached to the King's Own Scottish Borderers, was drafted to France in November 1916. The following letter has been received by Mr and Mrs Kidger : - " I do not know whether you will have received official news about your son, private Kidger 28558, of this battalion, by the time this reaches you. In any case, it is my sorrowful duty to inform you that he died of wounds received in action and was buried this morning in the military cemetery attached to the 21st Casualty Clearing Station. He was wounded in the stomach and in the knee on Wednesday last 21st inst.. by shell fire, was removed through the dressing stations to the 21st CCS and died there on Thursday. I did not see him after he was wounded, but I visited his grave today and have arranged for the erection of a cross over it. I could not find the Chaplain of the CCS today and so I cannot tell you anything of your son's last known hours, but if you write to the Chaplin I am sure he will tell you all he knows. I desire to express to you my own personal sorrow and the sorrow of all his comrades at the loss of so brave a soldier. We know also that the blow falls most heavily on you and your dear ones, and we send you our deepest sympathy .

(A casualty clearing station (CCS) was a military medical facility behind the front lines that was used to treat wounded soldiers. A CCS would usually be located just outside of the range of enemy artillery and often near transportation facilities e.g. a railway. The CCS received battlefield casualties from regimental aid posts located in the combat zone. Casualties that could not be adequately treated in the CCS were stabilized there before being transported to a field hospital or military hospital.) Additional information courtesy of Lynne Weston