A pleasant little gathering took place at the Kia Ora camp. Robb's Crossing, on Saturday evening, when Sergeant A. J. Tiddy, who leaves this week to join the reinforcements, at Trentham, was entertained by the campers and a number f friends. Mr Wootton. (Kia Ora) was master of ceremonies, and, on behalf of the campers, Sergeant Taylor presented Sergt. Tiddy with a wristlet watch, suitably inscribed. The recipient suitably acknowledged the gift, and a couple of .hours was then spent in harmony. -Oamaru Mail, 9/3/1915.
LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS.
APPRECIATION OF GIFTS OF TOBACCO.
The members of the Oamaru Boating Club decided at their annual meeting last year to send a parcel of pipes' and tobacco and also Christmas greetings to their clubmates on active service. The secretary, Mr Orr, received a number or letters acknowledging receipt of the gifts. A few extracts from the letters are as follows:
N.Z. Convalescent Home. Alexandria January 5th. 1916, — Kindly convey to the members of the Oamaru Boating Club my sincere thanks for the very useful present. . . .I was very pleased to learn the club is still in a flourishing condition and trust it will remain so. Most of the members over here are keeping well, but as the various units are scattered about one does not see them very often. For the last month I have been laid up with rheumatism. E. Guthrie is here with the some complaint and will probably be sent to New Zealand .... Yours faithfully. A. J. Tiddy. -Oamaru Mail, 24/2/1916.
Information has been received that Sergeant Alfred James Tiddy, son of Mr A. Tidily, of Newborough, who went away with the Sixth Reinforcements with the rank of sergeant, has received a commission, as lieutenant. It is stated that Lieutenant Tiddy could have obtained promotion previously under conditions involving his leaving the field for some time, and that he refused a commission unless he received it in the field. -North Otago Times, 18/12/1916.
FALLEN AND WOUNDED.
KILLED IN ACTION.
Mr A. Tiddy, of Newborough, yesterday received a telegram from the Minister of Defence conveying the sorrowful intelligence that a further report was that his son, Second Lieut. Alfred James Tiddy, had been killed in action on the 7th June. On Thursday last Mr Tiddy received advice from the same source that his son had been wounded, and, it is now clear, was a mistake. Lieut. Tiddy was an Oamaru boy by birth as well as education, and was 23 years of age. He was educated at the North School, and on leaving school adopted tailoring as a trade, being in the employ of Mr J. Rodman at the time of enlistment. On attaining the age of 21 years he resolved to enlist for active service, and finally left New Zealand with the Sixth Reinforcements on August 14th, 1915. He saw service at Gallipoli, and on the evacuation of the peninsula went to France and subsequently to Belgium. He was in the territorials and tools a lively interest in the work, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant before leaving New Zealand with the Reinforcement. He received promotion to commissioned rank in the field some little time since. With the exception of a fortnight's leave he had been continuously at the front. That he had a strong liking for a military life is shown by the fact that in one of his latest letters home he expressed his intention when the war ended of endeavoring to get into the Imperial Army and seek service abroad. -Oamaru Mail, 21/6/1917.
James Tiddy was killed during the Battle of Messines, an advance on German positions which was made after blowing up a large portion of them with a well-prepared mine. He was initially buried in a nearby shell hole before being moved to a military cemetery.
Oamaru Cemetery.
No comments:
Post a Comment