L/Cpl William Livingstone Kidd #163494
Personal Information
William Livingstone Kidd was 26 years 10 months old when he enlisted in World War I. He enlisted in the 84th Overseas Battalion in Toronto on August 30, 1915. Livingstone was born to Joseph and Mary (McDiarmid) Kidd on Oct. 8, 1888 in Prospect, ON. He was the youngest of eight children including John, Annie, Margaret, Lizzie, Angus, Edward, and James. He was named after his maternal grandmother’s family. His mother died the following year in 1889. His weight was 126 pounds and was 5’5 ¾” tall. He had blue eyes and brown hair. His religion was Methodist and he had blue eyes and brown hair. His assigned pay of $20 a month was paid to Angus J. Kidd of Nokomis, SK, but deposited in the Bank of Ottawa in Carleton Place. In 1921, Livingstone, his father, Margaret, and Elizabeth lived on the family farm beside his Uncle and Duncan McLaren. On Sept. 8, 1927, Livingstone married Jeanette Leach in Vancouver, BC at the age of 38. Four years later, they had their first child, Dorothy and later John William. His wife died in 1969 and Livingstone died on April 13, 1984 in Beckwith Township.
Military Movements
W. Livingstone Kidd was transferred to the 73rd Royal Highlanders on July 3, 1916 as a private where he fought in the Somme and then promoted to Lance Corporal on Dec. 27, 1916. On Feb. 16, 1917, he was transferred to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Center in Hastings, which is a hospital. After this stay for pleurisy, he was sent to the 1st Quebec Regiment, and then moved to the 13th battalion on April 27, 1918. Finally, he was sent home on March 18, 1919. He was part of the Canadian Army and his service number was 163494. He sailed home on the Empress of Britain and discharged in Montreal on Apr. 20, 1919.
Field of Action
W. Livingstone Kidd, on June 18, 1916, saw his first action in the field at the Somme where he served on the field ambulance. He joined the action in time for the attack at the Regina Trench. The Canadian forces, despite sustaining heavy losses for months before, replace the Australian and New Zealander forces and attacked on Sept. 15 at Courcelette. They fought for two months where rain turned the field into a quagmire. Some soldiers actually drowned in the mud. It was described as a nightmare of the foulest sort. Finally, on Nov. 11, 1916, the Trench was captured. Due to his promotion, we can assume Livingstone Kidd showed exemplary service and leadership during this time.
In July 1918, he also fought at Arras. In Arras, the countryside was a good defence but the unfinished Canal du Nord was going to be difficult to take especially without many tanks. The Canadian Army led the attack because they had established the reputation of being the best Britain had. After three days of fierce fighting and over 5,622 Canadians wounded or killed, the Canadian Army was able to take the Canal du Nord. In trying to build bridges over the Canal, there were over 100 casualties. In August, he then fought at Hangar Wood and the Somme River and continued fighting in the Hundred Days right to the end of the war. The Canadians took a second victory on Sept. 27. The final two miles were some of the fiercest fighting in the whole war. Homes, factories, mines were destroyed as the Germans tried to form one last defence line. General McNaughton fired every gun he had and approximately 2,149 tons of shells. Finally, the Canadians took Mons and on Nov. 11 at 11am, the war ended and the CEF celebrated. Livingstone Kidd was part of that celebration.
Medical Records
Despite serving in action for over three years, Livingstone Kidd spent very little time in the hospital. He was admitted for pleurisy and ear infections on a couple occasions. These illnesses were infections of the lungs and ear, which were easily contracted in the field and particularly in the Somme. He spent time in the hospital from Feb. 16, 1917 to April 2, 1917 and was released as “Fit for Duty.”
By Lilly Bacon
Personal Information
William Livingstone Kidd was 26 years 10 months old when he enlisted in World War I. He enlisted in the 84th Overseas Battalion in Toronto on August 30, 1915. Livingstone was born to Joseph and Mary (McDiarmid) Kidd on Oct. 8, 1888 in Prospect, ON. He was the youngest of eight children including John, Annie, Margaret, Lizzie, Angus, Edward, and James. He was named after his maternal grandmother’s family. His mother died the following year in 1889. His weight was 126 pounds and was 5’5 ¾” tall. He had blue eyes and brown hair. His religion was Methodist and he had blue eyes and brown hair. His assigned pay of $20 a month was paid to Angus J. Kidd of Nokomis, SK, but deposited in the Bank of Ottawa in Carleton Place. In 1921, Livingstone, his father, Margaret, and Elizabeth lived on the family farm beside his Uncle and Duncan McLaren. On Sept. 8, 1927, Livingstone married Jeanette Leach in Vancouver, BC at the age of 38. Four years later, they had their first child, Dorothy and later John William. His wife died in 1969 and Livingstone died on April 13, 1984 in Beckwith Township.
Military Movements
W. Livingstone Kidd was transferred to the 73rd Royal Highlanders on July 3, 1916 as a private where he fought in the Somme and then promoted to Lance Corporal on Dec. 27, 1916. On Feb. 16, 1917, he was transferred to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Center in Hastings, which is a hospital. After this stay for pleurisy, he was sent to the 1st Quebec Regiment, and then moved to the 13th battalion on April 27, 1918. Finally, he was sent home on March 18, 1919. He was part of the Canadian Army and his service number was 163494. He sailed home on the Empress of Britain and discharged in Montreal on Apr. 20, 1919.
Field of Action
W. Livingstone Kidd, on June 18, 1916, saw his first action in the field at the Somme where he served on the field ambulance. He joined the action in time for the attack at the Regina Trench. The Canadian forces, despite sustaining heavy losses for months before, replace the Australian and New Zealander forces and attacked on Sept. 15 at Courcelette. They fought for two months where rain turned the field into a quagmire. Some soldiers actually drowned in the mud. It was described as a nightmare of the foulest sort. Finally, on Nov. 11, 1916, the Trench was captured. Due to his promotion, we can assume Livingstone Kidd showed exemplary service and leadership during this time.
In July 1918, he also fought at Arras. In Arras, the countryside was a good defence but the unfinished Canal du Nord was going to be difficult to take especially without many tanks. The Canadian Army led the attack because they had established the reputation of being the best Britain had. After three days of fierce fighting and over 5,622 Canadians wounded or killed, the Canadian Army was able to take the Canal du Nord. In trying to build bridges over the Canal, there were over 100 casualties. In August, he then fought at Hangar Wood and the Somme River and continued fighting in the Hundred Days right to the end of the war. The Canadians took a second victory on Sept. 27. The final two miles were some of the fiercest fighting in the whole war. Homes, factories, mines were destroyed as the Germans tried to form one last defence line. General McNaughton fired every gun he had and approximately 2,149 tons of shells. Finally, the Canadians took Mons and on Nov. 11 at 11am, the war ended and the CEF celebrated. Livingstone Kidd was part of that celebration.
Medical Records
Despite serving in action for over three years, Livingstone Kidd spent very little time in the hospital. He was admitted for pleurisy and ear infections on a couple occasions. These illnesses were infections of the lungs and ear, which were easily contracted in the field and particularly in the Somme. He spent time in the hospital from Feb. 16, 1917 to April 2, 1917 and was released as “Fit for Duty.”
By Lilly Bacon