VAD William Kiddy

Voluntary Aid Detachment page


Red Cross, St John Ambulance Brigade and Royal Army Medical Corpsbadges

VAD William Kiddy

Convoy and hospital duties

Born on 5th October 1870 in Crewe, Cheshire, William was the oldest child of Joseph Fletcher Kiddy of Belper, Derbyshire and and Amelia (nee Platt) Kiddy, of Basford in Cheshire.

In 1871 they lived at 20 Beech Street in Monks Coppenhall, Cheshire. Joseph was working as an engine fitter.

The 1871 census

I have not been able to locate the family on the 1881 census.

William had moved to Leeds by 1891 and was a lodger at 7 Kensington Street, working as a general labourer.

His parents have a little mystery around them at this time. A Joseph Kiddy of the correct age, from Belper, was boarding with a family in Hunslet at the time of the 1891 census, and there is a burial record for a Joseph Fletcher Kiddy on 10th November 1897 at Beckett Street Cemetery in Leeds. Also on the 1891 census there is a record in Monks Coppenhall for a widow called Amelia/Annie (Amelia wasn't widowed but may have said this to explain the absence of her husband) with children Agnes (15), Mary H (10) and Wilmot (5).

He must have moved to Keighley some time later as he married Margaret Pittills on 2nd April 1898 at Holy Trinity Church in Lawkholme. Both gave their address as 68 Marlborough Street although she was originally from Salford. The marriage certificate shows William had the middle name of Thomas, and that his father Joseph was deceased. I have not found a record of William and Margaret having any children.

The marriage certificate of William Kiddy and Margaret Pittills

By 1901 William and Margaret had moved to 6 Calton Street in Keighley, William was employed as a steel and flyer grinder. Living with them were Margaret's sister Charlotte, both cigar makers, and William's brother Wilmot, a 15 year old roller coverer.

The 1901 census

In 1911 they had moved to 5 Calton Street. William had changed occupation to a prepayment meter collector for the Borough Council. Charlotte had moved on but Wilmot was still with them, along with a boarder who was from Salford so may have known the family previously.

During World War One William undertook 500 hours of convoy work and 750 hours of hospital duties at Morton Banks War Hospital and Spencer Street Auxiliary Hospital.

His brother Wilmot was serving with the 19th Battalion, Queen's West Sussex Regiment. He thankfully survived the war.

By 1921 he and Margaret were still living at 5 Calton Street, he was still working for the Borough Council as a prepayment meter collector. They did not have any boarders at this time.

Still at this address at the time of the 1939 Register, William was by now retired, and Margaret engaged in unpaid domestic duties. Her sister Charlotte was living with them again, working as a presser in a laundry.

The 1939 Register

William died in Keighley on 24th February 1958, just a few months after Margaret in 1957. His brother Wilmot die in 1960.

Sources:

England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915

1871 England Census

1891 England Census

1901 England Census

1911 England Census

1921 England Census

1939 England and Wales Register

England and Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915

West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935

Leeds, England, Beckett Street Cemetery, 1845-1987

UK, British Army WW1 Service Records, 1914-1920

England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995

 

 

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