Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Gallipoli, 1915

A veteran of The Nek and Hill 60, [1] Major Thomas Anderson Kidd, 10th Australian Light Horse, wrote to his wife from Heliopolis on 17th January 1916.

“We left Lemnos on Xmas Eve for Egypt, where we arrived on December 26. Whilst at Lemnos Sister Ollie Hall instructed me to dine with herself and a few friends on Xmas Day. However, I had to be content to have Xmas dinner on a huge liner, and the dinner was on a grand scale. On arrival here I met Frank and all the reinforcements both from Frank's battalion and our own regiment. There were boys from Geraldton, Walkaway, Greenough and Moonyoonooka, viz, Bunny Levermann, Patience, Jack Carson and many others. I have had Frank transferred to B Squadron of the 10th, which I command. All the Victoria District boys have also been placed in my charge. Frank is very well, in fact, looks as fit as a fiddle. I owe you many thanks indeed for the many Geraldton papers and letters which were handed to me on arrival, but I say don;t you think you are puffiing me up a bit too much. I only want a soldiers due. I had to go pretty hard upon arrival. Reinforcements had to be absorbed, and our regiment is a long way over its strength. I was detailed as one of the members of a Court Martial, and this lasted a week. Unfortanately, I contracted jaundice, and am now in No 1 Australian Hospital, Heilopolis [sic] but will be out in a few days. Father Goodman, a Geraldton native, is the Regimental Padre and Archdeacon Collick is our Brigade Chaplain. He was chaplain, to the 5th W.A. Contingent in South Africa, so we are old acquaintances. Archdeacon McClemans came Across to see me before he went to Tel el Kebir. I met Father Brennan in camp, and the Rev Mr Makeham called upon in the hospital. You might kindly tell Dave Hepburn that Paul came to see me in the hospital. He looks very well. I have not seen Col yet. The weather is simply lovely, warm days and cold nights. As we have been such a long time away from our horses we have now to undergo a severe Light Horse training; which shows that we shall have very little spare time. Cairo and Heliopolis are great places for flowers, especially roses. On my table here I have a bowl of beautiful white, cream and crimson rosebuds, and on a table near the window a large bowl of jonquils. Unfortunately the end of hostilities is not in sight, and we will probably have a lot of work in front of us yet.” [2]

Following a severe attack of cholera in Egypt he returned to Australia on 30th December 1916 and was discharged as no longer physically fit for service on 14th June 1917.

[1] Kidd witnessed Hugo Throssell's bravery at Hill 60, recommending him for the Victoria Cross.

[2] 'Geraldton Guardian' (Western Australia), 24th February 1916.