No.7223, Sergeant George Walter KIDD
Aged 32
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George Walter Kidd was born in 1886 (Mildenhall Q1-1886 4A:739), son of Walter and Mary Ann KIDD (née ARBON).
1891 census...Aged 5, he was at St Andrew's Street, Mildenhall with his father Walter KIDD [29] farm labourer born Mildenhall; his mother Mary Ann [28] born Chevington; brother Fuller [6] born Mildenhall. 1901 census...Aged 15, scholar, he was at St Andrew's Street, Mildenhall with his parents (father now groom/gardener, brother Fuller (grocer's porter and sister Jessie [1] born in Mildenhall. 1911 census...Aged 25, he was in the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment in Egypt. His parents, brother Fuller (butcher's assistant) and sister Jessie were still in St Andrew's Street, Mildenhall. |
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He enlisted in Bury St. Edmunds. The 2nd Suffolks were in the Ypres Salient, near Zonnebeke taking part in the battle for Polygon Wood Lt Col Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment" and the war diary say the battalion took Zonnebeke on the 26th, the 27th being reasonably quiet except for snipers and a counter attack in the evening. On the 28th sniping activity was greater, especially from the direction of the station and pill box just south of the lake. Enemy planes were active and flying low. Enemy artillery was less active but increase about dusk, but no counter attack followed. The artillery was slightly more active during the night with a number of gas shells between 10 pm and midnight. CWGC records 6 of the battalion killed on the 28th September 1917. The Bury Free Press of 27th October 1917 recorded:- ANOTHER MILDENHALL MAN KILLED IN ACTION It is with regret we record the death of another gallant soldier from this town,the War Office having recently intimated to Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kidd, of the Market Place, that their son, Sergt.George Kidd, of the 2nd Suffolk Regiment was killed in action on the 26th September last. In a letter from the Commanding Officer he states that Sergt.Kidd was his Platoon Sergeant, and although he had only been acquainted with him a few eeks, it was enough to convince him of Swergt. Kidd's good qualities as a soldier and a man.He adds that Sergeant Kidd was killed instantaneously, just as they reached their final objective, and was buried two days later. Writing of the sad event, the Chaplain said Sergt. Kidd was buried by his comrades where he fell, near the village of Zonnebecke, which was captured by our men. Before the war Sergt Kidd, who was 32 years of age, had served nine years in the Army, and was abroad for seven years. He was on the Reserve and doing duty as a postman at Sheffield when he was recalled to the colours and went with his regiment to France. He was wounded in the battle of Mons in May 1915 and again in August 1916.
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