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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 154

Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (90919 Gnr: C. Kiddy, 42nd. Bty: R.F.A), good very fine

Charles Kiddy was born around 1873 at Tottenham, London, and attested at Shorncliffe for the Cameron Highlanders on 9 May 1892. A gold blocker by occupation, he transferred to the Royal Field Artillery on 7 June 1982 and was posted to India, being appointed Bombardier on 3 April 1895. Reduced to Gunner having committed a crime on 27 April 1895, he was further punished with eight days of imprisonment with hard labour on 14 August 1895, 'by order of Commandant Wellington.'

It seems that the Commandant of the Wellington Depot - originally known as the Jakatalla Depot, located in the Nilgiris Mountains of southern India - was again displeased with Kiddy's conduct on 17 September 1895, resulting in him being imprisoned a further ten days. This was followed by 56 days of imprisonment from 25 January 1896, when found guilty by District Court Martial of 'using insular remarks to his superior officers'. After fracturing a finger in January 1899, Kiddy had clearly fallen out of love with India and fully exasperated those around him; he was transferred to South Africa and witnessed extensive service with No. 42 Battery, Royal Artillery, from 17 September 1899-12 October 1902.

Having continually forfeited good conduct pay, Kiddy was discharged as Gunner on 5 May 1904. He returned to service with the R.F.A. at the outbreak of the Great War, being posted to the 14th (Reserve) Battery on 28 August 1914, and various anti-aircraft and divisional ammunition columns in France thereafter. Transferred to Class 'Z', he was finally permanently discharged in February 1919, his character noted as 'good'; sold with copied service record.


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Sold for
£170

Starting price
£60