KIDSON, Alfred De Vere
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia, 21 August 1893 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Draftsman |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Belgium, 26 September 1917, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres. |
| Memorials: | Baulkham Hills William Thompson Masonic School War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Sydney United Grand Lodge Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, Depot Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Nov 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, Depot Battalion | |
| 6 Dec 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Company Sergeant Major, Depot Battalion | |
| 30 Sep 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 56th Infantry Battalion | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Embarked Lieutenant, 56th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Anchises, Sydney | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Involvement Lieutenant, 56th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Anchises embarkation_ship_number: A68 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Jul 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 56th Infantry Battalion, Promoted in France. |
Help us honour Alfred De Vere Kidson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Oakes
Alfred De Vere KIDSON was born on 21st August 1893 at Marrickville, NSW. He commenced work with the NSW Government Railways as an apprentice clerk in the Traffic Audit Branch in Sydney on 18th January 1890. In May 1911 he transferred to the Per-Way Branch as a Cadet Draftsman. It was from this role that he was released from duty to join the Expeditionary Forces.
He enlisted at Holdsworthy on 23rd August 1915 and was allotted to the 4th Depot Battalion as a Corporal (without pay). He transferred to the 6th Depot Battalion at Liverpool and became a Corporal (with pay) on 7th September 1915, a Sergeant on 24th November and a Company Sergeant Major on 6th December. He attended the Officer Training School at Duntroon from June to August 1916 and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 30th September. He transferred between several other units at Liverpool before embarking through Sydney aboard HMAT ‘Anchises’, on 24th January 1917 as part of the 9th Reinforcement to the 56th Battalion.
Kidson reached Devonport (England) on 27th March 1917. He proceeded overseas to France on 14th June and was taken on the strength of the Battalion on 17th July. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 28th July and attended the Signal School in early September.
He was killed instantaneously by enemy shell fire at Polygon Wood (Belgium) on 26th September 1917 and was buried at Westhoek Map J.10.b.07.73 (about 2800 yards East of Westhoek) by members of his platoon. It was also reported that: ‘It was decided to remove all the bodies there to Dickiebusche, but all the place was blown away.’ (S J Miller, 2217)
The location of the grave was never recovered and Kidson is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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