Name
Arthur Kidby
4/01/1896
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/03/1915
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
2894
London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles)
9th (County of London) Bn.
'C' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WULVERGEM CHURCHYARD
Sp. Mem. 5.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
"A GOOD LIFE IS OFTEN TOO SHORT BUT A GOOD NAME ENDURETH FOR EVER"
UK & Other Memorials
Hoddesdon and Rye Park Town Memorial, Hoddesdon,
St Catherine and St Paul’s Church Memorial, Hoddesdon,
Broxbourne C Of E Primary School Memorial, Broxbourne (*1)
Pre War
Arthur KIDBY was born on 4th January 1896 in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, son of Frederick Arthur Kidby a Surveyors Clerk and Mary Kidby (nee Elkins). One of their four children, although one died in infancy. His parents married on 4th June 1892, in Hoddesdon, Herts.
Arthur was Baptised on 13th September 1896, in the Parish of Hoddesdon, Herts.
1901 Census records Arthur aged 5, living with his parents, brothers George (7) and Frederick (2) in North Road, Hoddesdon, Herts.
1911 Census, Arthur (15) had left school and was working as a Merchants Clerk, living with his parents, brothers George and Frederick at 19 Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Herts. His father is recorded as a Builders Clerk in the Hoddesdon Brewery Building Department.
He had a good voice and was a member of the Hoddesdon Church Choir, a good athlete and captain of his school football team.
At the time he enlisted he was a Clerk in the Wholesale Drapery Trade.
*1 Believed educated at Broxbourne C Of E Primary School, Broxbourne.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted on 2nd September 1914, in London, posted to the 9th (County of London) Battalion, (Queen Victorias Rifles) The London Regiment, (The same Regiment as his brother George) and issued with the service number 2894.
On completion of his training Arthur was deployed to France, arriving on the 20th January 1915,
On 3rd March 1915, aged 19, he was shot in the head during a heavy burst of fire from the enemy trenches near Wulvergem and died immediately.
He is known to be buried in Wulvergem Churchyard, Wulvergem, Belgium. Commemorated on Special Memorial 5.
His company commander Capt. Herbert Fleming wrote: "He was shot through the head on the 3rd inst. during a heavy burst of fire from the German trenches. He had only been here a short time, but he proved himself a keen and brave soldier. I deplore his loss more than I can say. I was with your boy when he died; he was unconscious and only lived for a few minutes after he was shot. He has been buried in the churchyard at Wulvergem, and I will see that a cross is erected to his memory."
Additional Information
A pension card exists for his mother Mary as a dependent, but no pension amount is recorded.
His effects of 3s/8d, pay owing went to his father Frederick Kidby.
His Headstone inscription “A GOOD LIFE IS OFTEN TOO SHORT BUT A GOOD NAME ENDURETH FOR EVER” was requested by; Mr. F. A. Kidby, 19 Hertford Road, Hoddesdon, Herts.
His brother of Private 391267 George Frederick Kidby was killed on 30 August 1918 and is also commemorated on these memorials.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners, Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox, Jonty Wild
