I am researching Trooper Albert Edward Kidd who is commemorated on a war memorial at Hindle House Arcola Street Hackney. The information I have so far is Service No. 14336249 Reg. Reconnaissance Corps RAC 3rd (8th btn. The Royal Northumberland Fusilliers) Reg. DOD 22/10/44 Cemetery Mierlo War Cemetery Grave Ref VIII. C. 11 Son of Alfred & Martha Kidd of Stoke Newington. There is a photo of his grave on Find-a-grave. According to Family tree maker the Kidd family is related to the Nuckey family (I am also researching Arthur Albert Nuckey who is on same memorial). I would appreciate if anyone can provide me with any further information on Albert including contact with his relatives. Died Age 20.
His numbers falls within the General Service Corps 14200001 - 15000000 War Diary shows what the Reg was doing around the time of his death War Diary images thanks to Richard Lewis Sorry I don't have any more information Cheers Paul
Paul, thanks for taking the time to upload the information. What does 'OP work' stand for? Also, do you know what date the casualty list covers? Natalie.
Natalie OP stands for OBSERVATION POINT - Tpr Kidd probably joined the Army in Sept/ Oct '42 - casualty list might be for whole campaign - they were "RECCE" not a fighting unit… Cheers
Tom, Please, RECCE ARE a fighting unit!!!!!!!!! Just not an infantry, artillery or tank unit. Natalie, May I suggest : "Only the enemy in front" by Richard Doherty. This may give you a background into what The Reconnaisance Corps got up to. And does also include information on 3rd Recce Regt. Good luck Lawrence
The casualty list was published on Routine Orders dated 30 Oct 44. Recce were frequently pushed onto the line as infantry. cheers Paul
Hello Natalie, I have a copy of an A4 photocopied publication called "History of 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment (N.F) in the Invasion and Subsequent campaign in North West Europe 1944-1945" which I obtained from a well known auction site. For the period 2nd October to 8th February 1944 it states : With the failure of the big plan at Arnhem and the tenacious hold the Germans kept on the entrance to the Scheldt, more preparations were needed before the next big push.The 3rd Division was tasked with establishing a firm defensive line along the Meuse river with an extension towards Nijmegan. The 3rd Division was employed on this task throughout the winter. The 3rd Reconnaissance Regt's part was: 2nd October to 13th October, the holding of the north part of the river line based on Haps; 14th October to latter part of November whilst the Division attacked, captured and held Overloon and Venray, to swing to the south and the holding of Vierlingsbeek, Groeningen and Vortum and watch on the parachutists across the Molenbeek. 10 days followed when they held the river line itself after the enemy had withdrawn from Molenbeek and Den Bosch. After this they went into Divisional Reserve for four weeks. The pamphlet is 64 pages and includes the names of the Officers of the Regiment but no Roll of Honour or any more details of what happened in October 1944. KInd regards, Will.
Trackfrower It is my understanding that the RECCE's mandate was to go forward ahead of the Fighting troops - observe - and report back to the fighting troops to make them aware of what lay ahead of them - on occasion they would get mixed up in a fight and were subject to shelling - machine gunning - with many casualties- and when we almost ran out of fighting troops - particularly in Italy after the Gothic Line - they along with many AA units - Tank regiments - surplus Navy and RAF personnel were employed as Infantry mainly at the Senio winter line but basically their main task was to OBSERVE AND REPORT THEIR FINDINGS… Cheers
I would agree with Tom’s definition of the task of reconnaissance troops as basically “look, run, report”, which was the intended role of the Reconnaissance Corps. However that is not how it turned out. From “This Band of Brothers” by Jeremy Taylor (published 1947), “Although the main intended task of the Corps was infantry reconnaissance, a reconnaissance regiment in action proved such a useful unit outside its main role, and opportunities for pure reconnaissance turned out so limited, that a final analysis of time spent by the Corps in the field emerged as follows: - in reconnaissance, 12%; in protection, 9%; acting as infantry, 34%; miscellaneous and concentrated, 45%”. They certainly got involved in the fighting, much more than merely observing. Richard
Will, any chance you could scan & post "History of 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment (N.F) in the Invasion and Subsequent campaign in North West Europe 1944-1945" on here Cheers Paul
3rd reconnaissance regiment provided contact detachments for 3rd (British) division on Sword Beach on D-Day and then served throughout the Northwest European campaign. Patrols from 3rd recce were among the first British troops to enter Caen in July 1944. (from the book 'Only the enemy in front' by Richard Doherty).
England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005 about Albert E Kidd Name: Albert E Kidd Mother's Maiden Surname: Hosmer Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1924 Registration district: Hackney Inferred County: Greater London Volume Number: 1b Page Number: 592 It seems from another family tree that he was an only child. For information his fathers full name was Alfred Lawrence E Kidd, mother Martha Hosmer. It would appear that living relatives would involve creating a tree and tracing through his Uncles and Aunts ob both sides. Also results show: UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 about Albert Kidd Name: Albert Kidd Given Initials: A E Rank: Trooper Death Date: 22 Oct 1944 Number: 14336249 Birth Place: London E Residence: London N Branch at Enlistment: Royal Armoured Corps Theatre of War: Western Europe Campaign, 1944/45 Regiment at Death: Royal Northumberland Fusiliers (Recce) RAC Branch at Death: Royal Armoured Corps TD
Natalie Disregard my comments about him being an only child. I made a basic error in thinking the other tree I looked at was correct - oops Searching (as I should have done) for Kidd's born and registered with a mothers maiden name of Hosmer results in : England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005 about Alfred L Kidd Name: Alfred L Kidd Mother's Maiden Surname: Hosmer Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1916 Registration district: Hackney Inferred County: Greater London Volume Number: 1b Page Number: 647 England & Wales, Birth Index, 1916-2005 about Irene E Kidd Name: Irene E Kidd Mother's Maiden Surname: Hosmer Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1919 Registration district: Hackney Inferred County: London Volume Number: 1b Page Number: 438 Plus obviously Albert in the post above Sorry if that info created a problem TD :ewink: