1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 33102 Fred Gidney
- Age: 26
- From: St John, Brunswick, Canada
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
- K.I.A Wednesday 1st August 1917
- Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6
Born Robert William Frederick Gidney on the 18th March 1891 in Dovey's Cove, Saint John, Brunswick, Canada, he was the son of Robert William Frederick and his wife Mary Anne (nee Donohue). He was baptised on 06th April 1891 at the Cathedral by Rev. F. J. McMurray as Robert William Frederick Gidney, born March 18, 1891, parents Robert W.F. Gidney and Mary Ann (Donohue).
His father Robert appears on the 1881 census as a 21 year old farmer/fisherman. There are a number of Gidney families in this fishing community in Saint John, New Brunswick.
His father died before Fred was born on 11th September 1890. This is recorded on the family headstone.
His mother remarried on the 21st July 1898 to Miles B. Wright and they appear on the 1901 census with Fred aged 10.
Newspaper reports in July 1909 show Fred had a brush with the law:
Evening Times 12th July 1909
Fred Gidney, an 18 year old bell boy, admitted the charge of drunkenness yesterday on Union Street, but pleaded not guilty of profanity. Patrolman Steeves, in his testimony, stated that he espied Gidney with three companions on Charlotte Street on Sunday evening. Gidney was evidently very drunk as he staggered constantly and fell repeatedly. he cursed at two men in a vehicle and at a number of passersby. On noticing the policeman the quartet repaired to Union Street and lingered at the corner of Waterloo Street. Gidney indulged in more profanity, and with an accompanying oath declared: "Who cares for the cops" when Steeves approached. After being confined in a cell, Gidney refused to divulge the name of the party who sold or presented him with liquor.
Judge Ritchie, in commenting upon this Sunday episode on a principal avenue of the city, deplored the non-prosecution of the persons from whom Gidney obtained the intoxicants. His Honour stated that the fines for distribution of liquor to minors with the offence aggravated by its occurrence on Sunday ranged from 100 to $400 and if the guilty one held a liquor licence it was probable that the licence will be cancelled and this was the proper punishment. . Gidney was remanded until tomorrow morning.
Evening Times 13th July 1909
Fred Gidney, the 18 year old youth who was remanded yesterday for intoxication and profanity on Sunday, was fined $16 or 50 days and released on payment of half the fine. His Honour complained that the police had not unveiled the haze surrounding the obtaining of the liquor by the boy on Sunday.
On the 1911 Census at 11 Brussells Street, his mother Mary is again widowed:- Mary Gidney, aged 64, widow, b.1862 New Brunswick, nationality Canadian, religion Roman Catholic, family of Irish origin, English speaking. Fred Gidney is shown as aged 18, single, b.1892 New Brunswick, nationality Canadian, religion Roman Catholic, family of Irish origin, Hotel worker, employed 50 weeks in 1910, earnings $300, life insurance for $120 costing $5.20p.a, French speaking.
There are no passenger records for him coming to the UK, however, he enlisted in Liverpool originally joining the 1st Battlion and he was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 33102 when he was killed in action on the 01st August, 1917 aged 26 during the third Battle of Ypres.
The 20th Battalion diary gives details of the circumstances that the Battalion found themselves in during the early phases of the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). Having taken part in the initial fighting of 31st July 1917 there is a general write up in relation to the period 01st -08th August and specifics solely from the 03rd August. As such it is impossible to say exactly how each of the men who fell on 1st or 2nd August met their death.
20th Battalion Diary 1st August – 8th August
The Battalion continued to hold the position taken up on the morning of 31st July. After the first day the weather was very wet and the going very difficult, but the men’s spirits remained wonderfully good. From time to time there was very heavy enemy shelling and in addition to this machine guns and snipers were very active. The work of communication was extremely difficult and the wires to Companies and to Battalions on our flanks were repeatedly cut and were only kept going by most excellent work by our linesmen, who suffered very heavy casualties as also did the runners.
Fred has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium.
The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.
The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.
He is also remembered on a Canadian Roll of Honour panel
Soldiers Effects to Miss Rose Irwin, Pension to mother Mary Gidney, Brussells St, Saint John.
On the 1921 Canadian census, his mother, Mary, is living at 48 Brussells St., another widow, 73 year old Matilda Mills is at the address.
His mother died on 05th February 1933, aged 80, at home 125 Sydney Street, Saint John. Mary was born to Irish parents Harry Dohonue and Margaret Mitchell.
We currently have no further information on Fred Gidney, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Wednesday 8th November 1916.
Pte 17836 Reginald Charles Heyes
22 years old
(107 Years this day)
Thursday 8th November 1917.
Pte 24359 Arthur Crumbie Ledger
22 years old
(107 Years this day)
Thursday 8th November 1917.
Pte 86364 Louis De Witt Tomlinson
37 years old
(106 Years this day)
Friday 8th November 1918.
Pte 268610 George Acton
24 years old
(106 Years this day)
Friday 8th November 1918.
Pte 332819 William Adams
36 years old
(106 Years this day)
Friday 8th November 1918.
Lieut Harry Leslie Baker (MC)
26 years old
(106 Years this day)
Friday 8th November 1918.
Pte 202891 Joseph Frederick Peter Bartley
20 years old
(106 Years this day)
Friday 8th November 1918.
Sgt 19404 Anthony Bolton
23 years old
(106 Years this day)
Friday 8th November 1918.
Pte 18192 Edwin Cartwright
36 years old
(106 Years this day)
Friday 8th November 1918.
Pte 204609 Henry Curran
38 years old
(106 Years this day)
Friday 8th November 1918.
Pte 269493 Samuel Henry Derry
32 years old
(106 Years this day)
Friday 8th November 1918.
Pte 65291 Norman Gordon Grant
23 years old
A total of 19 Pals were killed on this day. View All