C B Kydd, Bedfordshire Regt

[carninyj]

Here is an interesting tale that links the USA, Ireland and England.

Chester Bishop Kydd, a native of Leavenworth, Kansas, USA, born on 31st May 1897, was the only son of John G A Kydd and his wife Jessie de Mott Bishop. The family settled in Coleraine, Co Londonderry.

Chester B Kydd was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant in the Bedfordshire Regiment on 18th June 1915 and he was on the Western Front from July 1916. He was killed in action when leading the attack at Cherisey on 3rd May 1917.

His batman, Private H H Gladwish, was with him when Kydd was shot in the chest. He tried to carry his wounded charge to the British line, but he was forced to shelter in a shell-hole, and it was there that C B Kydd died. Private Gladwish, alone and trapped by the shelling, spent almost seventy-two hours in No Man’s Land. During all that time he was without food and water. When he ultimately got back to his own lines, he was too exhausted with hunger and grief to tell a coherent story.

In December of 1917 the Mayor of Margate presented Private H H Gladwish with the DCM he won in France in May. Mr and Mrs Kydd had been honoured guests at this ceremony in Margate.

The tale is closely supported by the medal citation, London gazette, 26th July 1917:

40533 H H Gladwish, Bedf. Regt.

For conspicuous gallantry & devotion to duty. Having shown great gallantry in attempting unsuccessfully to rescue a fatally wounded officer, whose servant he was, he remained out three days and nights, collecting valuable information concerning the enemy, during which time he was continuously under fire and without food or water

Regards

Carninyj

[Raster Scanning]

Hi Carninyj.

Kydd and Gladwish were both members of B Coy, 7th Bedfordshire Regiment.

Of the company officers who started out that day, only two came out of the action unwounded.

Captain Bull of 'B' Coy newly returned from England after recovering from wounds sustained on July 1st 1916, was killed. He was described as "One of the finest officers we ever had" by his men.

Also in B Coy was 2/Lt Kydd, he was one of many killed/wounded by MG and

sniper fire as they lay trapped by a deep belt of uncut wire in front of Fontaine Trench.

"A DCM was more than earned by Pte Gladwish, servant to 2/Lt Kydd, of 'B' Coy, who was killed near Fontaine Trench. For three days and nights he tried to find his way back, though he could have easily given himself up to the Bosche. In spite of terrible thirst and hunger, he hid by day in shell holes and reconnoitered by night. Finally after three nights out, he found himself challenged by a British sentry, and was safe, though exhausted and looking like a hunted creature." *

* The 54th Infantry Brigade 1914-1918. Gale and Polden 1922 (for private circulation)

Pte Henry H Gladwish had previously served as 29034 Essex Rgt and later served as 897242 in the 34th (County of London)Battalion, London Rgt, he survived the war.

Thanks for posting this additional info. I have an interest in the 7th Beds and would appreciate information on your sources for inclusion in my database.

Cheers.

John.

[carninyj]

My interest in C B Kydd is that he features as a name on the war memorial in Larne Grammar School, as well as on the memorial in Coleraine Academical Institution (CAI); he's also listed on the town memorial in Coleraine.

He featured in a recent local book, 'Coleraine Heroes' by Robert Thompson. It was from that that I took the photo. It came originally from CAI I think. There is also a plaque to Kydd in Coleraine Congregational Church - I have the wording at home and will post it.

Regards

Carninyj

[carninyj]

John, as promised the plaque wording:

“In Loving Memory of Chester Bishop Kydd, 2nd Lieutenant Bedfordshire Regiment, only and dearly beloved son of Dr J.G. A. Kydd and Jessie Bishop Kydd, Dunreeva, Coleraine, killed in action while leading the attack on Cherisy, France on 3rd May 1917 in the twentieth year of his age.”

C B Kydd's only sister, Elizabeth May Kydd, died on 20th November, 1925.

His father was a dentist in Coleraine. He had been educated at Coleraine Academical Institution and at Erasmus Smith Grammar School, Galway. He later went to America where he studied Dentistry at Kansas City Dental College.

In 1892 he married Jessie Bishop of Leavenworth and in 1898 returned to Coleraine. He died on 19th October 1939, just after the start of the Second World War (aged 79) and is buried in Agherton Cemetery, Portstewart. His wife Jessie Bishop died many years later on 27th July 1957 and is interred with her husband in Agherton.

C B Kydd's grandfather, John Kydd, was a former minister of the Congregational Church and during his ministry the present church in New Row, Coleraine was erected.

Hope some of that is useful to you.

Regards

Carninyj

[Raster Scanning]

Carninyj

Thank you very much for all the additional information on Kydd.

Much appreciated, as is the picture of him.

Best wishes.

John.

[larneman]

Thank you both for this extra information CB KYDD aka KIDD

I have added all the above information and photograph to the Larne in War1 website at http://larne-in-war1.irishgenealogy.net

Liam

[carninyj]

Glad you found it useful, Liam. PS I didn' see this initially, hence the previous message.

Regards from Larne on a cold, snowy morning.

Carninyj