Kidd,+Harry

Well before the war Harry Kidd, son of Sam Kidd of 1 Wheathead Lane, was a 17 yr. old labourer at J Haggas & Son. But on 21 June 1912 he enlisted for 4 years with 6th West Riding Territorials (Duke of Wellington’s) as Soldier number 1764. The 6th Batallion was based in Skipton, but his record show they were posted at Camp Flamborough in 1912 and Aberystwith in 1913. Then came WWI, the Division was mobilized on 5 August 1914 and “went on campaign” to South Yorkshire. But there Harry Kidd caught pneumonia so badly his lungs were damaged and he was declared medically unfit. On 8 Jan 1915 he was “discharged under para 392 16 no longer physically fit for war service”. Back in Exley Head he was nursed by his mother Lizzie but felt very left out when he heard of his comrades shipping, from Folkestone and Southampton on 16th April, as if all his training had been wasted. The 6th Division remained in France and Flanders and took part in 20 engagements.