Frank Kiddy
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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Frank Kiddy was born in 1897 in Hucknall and was the son of John a coal miner and Lydia Kiddy née Bird of 108 Derbyshire Lane Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire. His father John was born in 1848 in Wessington, Derbyshire and his mother Lydia Bird was born in 1853 in Hucknall, they were married in 1869 their marriage was recorded in the Basford Registration District, they went on to have 16 children , sadly 4 of whom died in infancy or early childhood, their children recorded on the 1891/1901/1911 census were, Joseph b1870 Hucknall, Hannah b1874 Doncaster, George b1877 Staveley, Derbyshire, William 1878 Hucknall, Thomas b1880 Hucknall, Mary Ann b1883 Hucknall, John b1884 Hucknall, Emma b1888 Hucknall, Harry b1891 Hucknall, Nelly b1893 Hucknall, Samuel b1895 and Frank b1897 Hucknall. In the 1911 census the family are living at 108 Derbyshire Lane, Hucknall and are shown as John 63 yrs a coal miner, he is living with his wife Lydia and their children, Emma 23 yrs no occupation, Harry 20 yrs a coal miner, Nelly 18 yrs a milliners assistant, Sam 16 yrs a pony driver, underground in colliery and Frank 14 yrs a door trapper in a colliery.
Rifleman Frank Kiddy enlisted in Nottingham and served with the 7th battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, he landed in France on 29th April 1915, been wounded and only recently returned to the Continent at the time of his death he was killed in action on 4th March 1916 and he is buried in Caberet Rouge Cemetery, Souchez.
His brother Rifleman Samuel Kiddy enlisted at Nottingham on 1st June 1915, he served with the 12th battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps, and landed in France on 19th November 1915. He was killed in action on 30th November 1917, he has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France On 10th November 1915 Rfn. Frank Kiddy, 7th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, appeared before the magistrates at the Nottingham Shire Hall charged with being absent without leave. After landing in France on 29th April 1915, he returned to England after being wounded. Before rejoining his unit on the continent, he applied for leave to visit his father. When this was permission was refused he came home anyway. Article published on 11th November 1915 in the Hucknall Dispatch :- “WOUNDED SOLDIER’S PLAINT. “Rifleman F. Kiddy, of Hucknall, appeared at the Nottingham Shire Hall on Wednesday, [10th November 1915] charged with being an absentee. “P.c. Greaves said that he arrested Kiddy on Tuesday night [9th November 1915], having received a telegram from the commanding officer at Queensborough Camp, Sheerness, asking for him to be taken into custody. Kiddy said he had been wounded and was being sent back to France without having been given a leave to see his father, although he had twice asked for permission. “Mr. G. Fellows said they could not override the decision of the commanding officer, who no doubt had good reasons for not granting leave. He was remanded for escort.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
