Appendix WW1 - Kidners and Ketnors in the Great War

Forenames Parents Regiment/Service/Corps Service No. Story
Albert William and Maria Kidner of Middlesborough Machine Gun Corps 126006 Private; honourably discharged under Para 392 (xvi a) King's Regulation S. - no longer fit for military service
Silver War Badge no. 517798 issued 19th January 1921. Died at Middlesbrough in 1959.
Albert Edward John and Alice Kidner of Stockton on Tees Lincolnshire Regiment 241798 Private. Emigrated to Canada in 1925.
Alexander Dennis Henry and Emily Kidner of Aston Private, Royal Warwickshire Regt. 26943; 1045; 4503 Died in Birmingham in 1954
Alfred William William and the late Jessie Matilda Kidner of Stoke Holy Cross, Norwich Major, Royal Field Artillery Relinquished acting rank of Major on ceasing to command a Battery 10th Oct. 1918. Died in Lakenheath in 1976, having introduced fine asparagus to much of the world.
Arthur Edward Frederick George and Emma Kidner Royal Air Force 52441 Served with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in the Kite Balloon Section (Balloon Party); joined the RAF in 1917, and with the B.E.F. from 15.4.17 to 13.2.18. Discharged on 26.8.18, no longer physically fit for War Service. Died at Brighton in 1961.
Arthur William The late William Jesse and Emma Kidner of Pontypridd and Somerset Private, 28th Battalion, Australian Infantry 321 A butcher by trade, he joined up in June 1915. Returned to Australia 18 December 1918
Arthur William Colston Thomas Bessell and Emily Kidner of Montreal Royal Naval Air Service Probationary Flight Officer. Commission terminated 20.10.16. Victory & British War Medals. Died in 1944.
Carter John William and the late Sarah Kidner, of Poole Hampshire Regt. 24962 Carter died in Bournemouth in 1963
Cecil Robert Thomas and Florence Jane Ketnor, of Bath Private, North Somerset Yeomanry 839; 165257 Cecil died in 1970 at Bath.
CR Ketnor
Charles Henry Thomas Hogbin and Bertha Harriett nee Kidner London Regiment, 28th Battalion (Artists Rifles) 10199; 764200 Dental student at Guy's Hospital when he enlisted on 2nd December 1915. Placed on Army Reserve, and mobilized on 2nd January 1917. With the B.E.F. in France from 16.2.17 to 14.11.17. Discharged on 24th May 1918 having been appointed to a temporary commission on the General List as a Dental Surgeon. Charles Henry died in 1982.
Christopher John and Louisa Kidner of Abertilleryy Royal Marine Labour Corps SS/12276; D/8727/S Died in 1947
Dennis Henry Dennis Henry and Emily Kidner of Aston Sergeant, Machine Gun Corps 43338 Died in Birmingham in 1953
DH Kidner
Dennis Henry Kidner
Edward John and Mary Elizabeth Kidner of Ilchester, Somerset Private, West Somerset Yeomanry; Somerset Light Infantry 1514; 295328 Emigrated to Australia in 1922. Died in 1976 at Dandenong, Victoria.
Ernest Alfred Alfred Samuel and Mary Jane Kidner, of Lewisham Canadian Infantry 77528 Enlisted at Victoria, British Columbia, on 10th November 1914
Frederick Clinton Reuben and Kate Kidner of Michigan, USA Captain, Orthopaedic Unit attached Royal Army Medical Corps In April 1917, while on his honeymoon, he was called to active service in the Army as a Captain and was immediately sent to England with the first group of orthopaedic surgeons assigned to help Sir Robert Jones in his work with British casualties. He was stationed at the Military Orthopaedic Hospital at Shepherds Bush until 1918, when he was promoted to the rank of Major and made Consultant in Orthopaedic Surgery for the British Isles; this position he held until the end of the War.
Frederick Elworthy John and Emily Kidner of Dodhill, Somerset Rifleman, Queen's Westminster Rifles 2546 Read his story here. Came home from Russia and joined 16th Bn. QWR. Landed in France 26th January 1915; shot by sniper, and died of wounds on 20.02.15, aged 26. Buried at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres. (Ref. IX.B.77)
photo of FEK's headstone
Fred Kidner's headstone at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery (Credit:Peter J. Kidner)
Forenames Parents Regiment/Service/Corps Service No. Story
Frederick George The late Benjamin and Dorothea W.L. Kidner of Adelaide Private, 16th Battalion, 12th Reinforcement' Co.Quartermaster Sgt. 3714 Returned to Australia 27 August 1917
Frederick William William and Mary Ketnor of Luccombe Sergeant, A.S.C. R4/139988 Silver War Badge no. 238409 issued on 7th September 1917. Died early 1918.
George John and Mary Elizabeth Kidner of Ilchester, Somerset Acting Sergeant, Royal Garrison Artillery, 127th Heavy Battery 81 I have guessed the identification, but plumped for this George because he was based at Ashton Barracks, Bristol, in April 1915, and was later to get married in Paris in 1921. He died in 1979 in Weymouth.
George Malcolm George and Ellen Kidner of Stroud Green, London Private, London Regt. 6081; 724016 Emigrated to Australia in 1913, and must have come straight back. He died at Barnet in 1961.
George Victor George and Jessie Kidner of Camberwell Apprentice, RAF 164069 Joined up on 30th April 1918, aged 18.
George William Charles Thomas and Florence Kidner of Tunbridge Wells Lance Cpl, South African Infantry. 7743 Fought in Delville Wood in July 1916. Killed in action on the 12th October 1916 (Butte de Warlencourt). Aged 21, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 4 C.
photo of FEK's headstone
Headstones at Thiepval (Credit:Patrick N. Kidner)
Forenames Parents Regiment/Service/Corps Service No. Story
George William William and Maria Kidner of Middlesbrough Seaman and Shipwright, Royal Navy M20061 Served on HMS Pembroke II (RNAS at Eastchurch), HMS Hibernia, and HMS Titania (Chatham)
Gilbert Henry William and the late Jessie Kidner of Stoke Holy Cross, Norwich 2nd Lieut., Army Service Corps M2/150176 Temp. 2nd Lieut. from 15th April 1918.
Died in 1946 in Norfolk.
Harold Charles Charles Thomas and Florence Kidner of Tunbridge Wells Private, Army Service Corps M2/18863 Discharged 04.06.17 on a/c sickness and awarded Silver War Badge on 19.06.1917.
Harold John George and Ellen Jane Kidner of Stroud Green, London Private, London Regiment (Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles) 532860 Killed in action on 7.10.1916 at the Battle of the Somme. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 13 C.
Thiepval Memorial
Thiepval Memorial (Credit: cwgc.org)
Forenames Parents Regiment/Service/Corps Service No. Story
Harold Stuart Harry Pauling and Ella May Kidner of Ashfield, NSW Private, Australian Army Medical Corps 17289 Returned to Australia July 1919. Became Archdeacon of Sydney.
Harry William and Maria Kidner of Middlesbrough Private, Yorkshire Regt.; York and Lancaster Regt. 25084; 58350 "Compulsory [sic] transferred permanently to the York and Lancs Regt. & posted to 2/4th Bn in the rank of Pte. Reason - Benefit of Service. 5.9.18.
Harry John Russell and Margaret Kidner of South Shields Staff Sergeant, Royal Engineers 465282; T665 Attached to Tyne Electrical Engineers; 32nd Anti-aircraft Searchlight Section. The Tyne Electrical Engineers were pioneers in the use of mobile searchlights.
Henry Henry and Ellen Kidner of Birmingham Private, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regt. 51297 Gunsmith. He died in Birmingham in 1953.
Herbert James George and Mary Ann Kidner, of Herberton, QLD Private, 15th Battalion, 20th Reinforcement 6296 Returned to Australia 5 March 1919. Died in 1971 at Innisfail, N. Queensland.
Horace Dennis Henry and Emily Kidner of Aston Private, Army Ordnance Corps 023821 An engineer by training, he died in 1986 in Birmingham.
James Valentine and Elizabeth Kidner of Middlesbrough Royal Army Medical Corps "Fit for service abroad, but not fit for General Service, in Labour Units, or on Garrison or Regimental Outdoor Employment" 5.06.1916.
Died in 1948 in Middlesbrough.
James Merson John and Mary Elizabeth Kidner of Ilchester, Somerset Private, Australian Infantry, 754 Died of wounds received at Gallipoli on 07.05.1915 at Alexandria, and buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, ref. A.71. Also commemorated on the cross at St Andrew's Northover, Ilchester, Somerset
Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery
Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery (Credit: cwgc.org)
Forenames Parents Regiment/Service/Corps Service No. Story
John ('Jack') Valentine and Elizabeth Kidner of Middlesbrough Private, Yorkshire Light Infantry 31455
Jack Kidner with family c. 1917
Jack Kidner, with wife Hannah and young family, c.1917
Returned home on leave on death of his child. Back in France, his unit had moved on, so he joined another. Hannah had to produce postcard from the Front to prove to RMP he had not deserted! Died in 1966.
John John and Alice Jane Kidner of Stockton on Tees Staff Sgt. Royal Army Ordnance Corps A/2293
Staff Sgt. John Kidner
Staff Sgt. John Kidner
Leonard John and Louisa Kidner of Abertillery Pioneer, Royal Engineers 114752 Enlisted 17.08.1915; discharged as unfit for War Service on 6.07.1916. Suffered from blepharitis (acute inflammation of the eyelids)
Robert Cawthorne William and Mary Ann Kidner of Ontario RAF 71689 Served 18 months with 7th Regt. of Fusiliers before being discharged so that he could enlist in the RAF; which he did, at the age of 43, on 25th April 1917, at Toronto. He was discharged from the RAF in February 1919.
Robert Edward Edward and Elizabeth Jane Ketnor of Chesterfield L/Cpl., 3rd South Staffs 204450 Served 1914-1919. Died 1953.
Silas Benjamin and Edith Kidner of Woolavington Private, West Somerset Yeomanry 770 Enlisted in 1913, discharged on 26.06.16 with Silver War Badge no.217489
Simon John and Mary Elizabeth Kidner of Ilchester, Somerset Sergeant, Dorset Yeomanry 412; 39767 Died at Bournemouth in 1971
Thomas Clatworthy William and Jessie Kidner of Stoke Holy Cross, Norwich Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps Killed by a shell while on duty at his advanced dressing station near Le Transloy during the Somme offensive on 26th October 1916; buried near Lesboeufs. Aged 26. Also commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 4 C.
Plaque at Thiepval
Plaque at Thiepval (Credit:Patrick N. Kidner)
Forenames Parents Regiment/Service/Corps Service No. Story
Walter James Walter and Fanny Kidner of Aston Manor L/Cpl Royal Warwickshire Regt. 1788 Killed in action in France on 27.07.16, aged 20. Buried at Laventie Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, ref. II.G.45
Laventie Military Cemetery
Laventie Military Cemetery, La Gorgue (Credit: cwgc.org)
Forenames Parents Regiment/Service/Corps Service No. Story
William Valentine and Elizabeth Kidner of Middlesbrough Private, Yorkshire Regiment; Labour Corps 7066; 424771 Died in 1937 at Middlesbrough
William Elworthy Kidner John and Emily Kidner of Dodhill, Somerset Major, Royal Engineers 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Sappers and Miners; 33rd Divisional Signal Coy, Lahore Division; Indian Expeditionary Force, January 1915 to October 1915. Trained 40th Divisional Signal Coy., and took it to France, June 1916. Recalled to India, October 1917; General Staff. Mentioned in Despatches, 1916; M.C., 1917.
WE Kidner
WE Kidner
William John Jesse and Sarah Amelia Kidner of Tooting Private, 9th Bn East Surrey Regiment 4352 Enlisted at Kingston upon Thames in September 1914; discharged because of an old foot injury on 22nd January 1915. Awarded Silver War Badge no. 153109 on 28.03.1917.
Walter George Warden GF and JB Warden, of Gloucester; husband of Constance Sylvia Warden née Kidner, of 12, Highbury Rd., Weston-super-Mare. Captain, 8th Bn. Somerset Light Infantry - Killed on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He is buried at Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-La Boisselle.

Civilians

  • Scrutiny of the list above made me realise that many of the Kidners in Wales worked in reserved occupations, in the steel and mining industries, for example, without whose efforts the war effort would have quickly ground to a halt.
  • No list of contributors to the War should fail to mention Thomas Bessell Kidner who, working in Canada and the USA, pioneered the use of occupational therapy in the treatment of disabled soldiers. His obituary is well worth a read.

List of Appendices

Kidner Family History home page

Last updated on 3rd January 2017