Larne in WW1 on the NET

Regiment, Corps etc.	Bedfordshire Regiment
Battalion/etc.	3rd Bn. attd. B Coy.,7th Bn
Surname	Kydd aka Kidd
Christian Name(s)	Chester Bishop
Initials	CB
Born	Leavenworth, Kansas
Enlisted
Residence
Age:	19
Date of Death:	03/05/1917
Died How	killed in action
Theatre of War	France and Flanders
Rank	2nd Lt.
Service Number
Casualty Type:	Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference:	Bay 5
Cemetery:	ARRAS MEMORIAL
Supplementary Notes
Notes	Son of Dr. J. G. A. Kydd and Jessie Bishop Kydd, of Shantallagh, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry.
Remembered on the:-	Larne War Memorial
Remembered on the:-	Larne Grammar School Plaque
Remembered on the:-	Coleraine Academical Institution Memorial
Remembered on the:-	Coleraine War Memorial
Notes: supplied by Mr. J. Hoy	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
Notes: supplied by John	2/Lt Kydd and Pte. 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. 2/Lt Kydd, 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.
Source: DeRuvigny's Roll of Honour, supplied by Dick Flory	Only son of John George Alexander Kydd of Dunreeva, Coleraine. Dental surgeon. and his wife, Jessie. Daughter of De. Mott Bishop. Born Leavenworth, Kansas, U.S.A. 31st May, 1897. Educated Academical Institution, Coleraine and Larne Grammar school, where he was studying when war broke out. Was gazetted 2nd Lt. Bedfordshire Reg. 18th June, 1915. Served with the expeditionary force in France and Flanders from July 1916 and was killed in action at Cherisey, 3rd May 1917. Colonel G.O. Mills wrote: “Your son was a most gallant officer and a great loss to the battalion.” And the chaplain: “I knew your son exceedingly well and I have enjoyed and appreciated his friendship for many months now… but I should like to tell you how greatly beloved your son was by both officers and men in this battalion. He was a splendid fellow and the best tribute I know to his memory was paid by his servant, Gladwish, to whom I refer at the beginning of this letter… he (Gladwish) was with Mr. Kydd, when he was shot through the heart on Thursday. He carried him back for 100 yds and then your son died in the shell hole. Meanwhile, the fortunes of the battle swayed and Gladwish was out in No Mans Land for 72 hrs.” 2nd Lt. S. Morris O’Connor also wrote: “I was only a fortnight with the company before this last action yet I fell as if I had lost a friendship of many years standing. Perhaps I was attracted a little by our common Irish blood but he endeared himself to both officers and men by his never failing cheerfulness. His men are almost inconsolable.”

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Updated on 18 November, 2004

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