Robert was a Driver for the French Red Cross when he was killed at just 17 on April 26, 1917. His death occurred less than a year after that of his older brother, Geoffrey Damarel Gidley, and only four weeks after that of his cousin, Frederick William Gidley Robert's story is recorded in great detail by the letters attached to his record in the Soldier’s Documents from Pension Claims, TNA, WO364/1343. Robert Dudley Gidley was born on February 19, 1900, the youngest child of George Gidley and his wife, Annie Maud, nee Sharp. I can't do better than to quote from the research done by the Chiswick War Memorial researchers who have put together all the details of Bob Gidley's short, remarkable life on their website, Heroes of Chiswick which is beautifully illustrated with photos of Robert, scans of letters, and a photo of his gravestone. "Robert Dudley (“Bob”) Gidley was born on 19 February 1900 in Shepherd’s Bush, the youngest son of George Gidley (1862-1935) and Annie Maud Gidley (nee Sharp, 1862-1948). He was christened at St Stephen’s Church, Shepherd’s Bush on 26 March 1900. At that time, the family were living at 51 Pennard Road, Shepherd’s Bush. The family were still living at 51 Pennard Road at the time of the 1911 census. Like his elder brother Geoffrey, Bob was a keen scout with the Third Chiswick Troop. Much of the following account of his life is taken from his entry in “The Scouts Book of Heroes”, which starts: “To all true Scouts the war brought an irresistible call to the service of King and Country. Those whom youth or ill-health prevented from “joining up” were bitterly disappointed, and many a story is told of the ways in which they tried to evade the authorities, and get out to do their bit. Perhaps few stories could equal that of Bob Gidley, for heroic perseverance. Bob Gidley had a remarkable career which was an example and inspiration to his brother Scouts. He joined the Chiswick Troop before he was twelve and remained a member of it throughout. He was a somewhat delicate and reserved boy, but his sterling worth was shown at the age of thirteen when he saved a child from drowning, at Strand on the Green” Queenie Farndon, aged three years, of Thames Road, Chiswick .. had fallen into the water at Strand-on-the-Green [on the River Thames by Kew Bridge], and was noticed by Scout Gidley under the water lying on her face in a practically unconscious condition and in grave danger of being carried into the stream. Gidley, by his presence of mind and promptitude, got the child out, applied artificial respiration, took the child home, and – said nothing about it . Prince Alexander of Teck (Queen Mary's brother) handed him the framed certificate, with the words “You have done a great scout action. I hope you will do many more in the future.” “The Scouts Book of Heroes” then takes up the story: “In July 1914, Bob was in Belgium with a party of Scouts, and was in that country when it was invaded by the Germans. Returning home he immediately volunteered for Scout war service, and served in the Foreign Office for several months.” Then, on 16 April 1915, aged just 15, but claiming to be 19, he enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service as a motor despatch rider, and was transferred to the armoured car section. He was promoted to be 1st class petty officer, and later on qualified as pilot’s observer and made several ascents. After fourteen months’ service, he was recommended for a commission in the Army, and was sent to the Officer’s Cadet Battalion at Oxford. His service records (Soldier’s Documents from Pension Claims, TNA, WO364/1343) show that he enlisted at Whitehall on 23 May 1916. Bob was then 16, but claimed on his enlistment form to be 20. He was there [Officer’s Cadet Battalion] some six months, but the training was so severe that he broke down in health, and his age – then only 16 years and 10 months – was discovered.” Somewhat surprisingly, contained amongst all the official communications in Bob’s service records, is a letter that his mother wrote to him, from “Lyndhurst”, Burnaby Gardens, dated 1 January 1917: “My Darling Boy, Now that you are back in camp again what are you doing about your discharge. I am anxious to know whether you are coming home soon. It is no good your trying to go on. You will only strain yourself again and perhaps permanently. I told you at first that you would not be strong enough for soldiering. You have outgrown your strength so much. After all the sickness you had in hospital last year perhaps you now know I was right. When you were last in hospital early in December I sent you your birth certificate and asked you to use it to get your discharge. I thought they would discharge you directly they saw it. In any case you have done your bit so you can surely wait until you are 18. Until then you can do other useful work and at the same time get strong. With dearest love and God bless and be with you and grant you a Happy New Year Your ever loving Mother” It seems that Bob had taken his mother’s advice regarding his birth certificate, as the first communication on the file regarding his discharge is dated 16 December 1916. There were then a string of official communications as to whether Bob could be discharged, and what should be done with him (on 29 January 1917: “If Private Gidley is willing to enrol as an Army Reserve Munition worker, he should be posted to Detachment Depot. H.A.C. His discharge was finally authorised, on 10 February 1917, under King’s Regulations paragraph 392(xxv). Even then, his discharge was delayed due to the fact he was suffering from German measles. His discharge from the Army finally took effect on 17 March 1917 (by which time he had grown to 5 foot 10½). It is at this point that Bob’s “heroic perseverance” came to the fore. According the the “History of the Third Chiswick Scouts”, Bob said to DSM (District Scout Master) Mr H.S.Martin “I can drive a car – why not an ambulance?”. On 27 March 1917, Bob sailed to France as part of the Section Sanitaire Ecossaise 20 (also known as the “Scottish Convoy”), attached to the French Red Cross, and to quote from a report in the Chiswick Times of 4 May 1917: “After only a few weeks’ service his brilliant and self-sacrificing career was crowned by a most gallant death in the service of others”. The Chiswick Times goes on to quote a letter from the Director General of the French Red Cross: "The convoy was at work with the French forces engaged in the recent great assault, and the work done by this ambulance column was necessarily of a hazardous character, only to be undertaken by those endowed with both nerve and pluck. In this noble work of rescuing the fallen, and with self-sacrifice worthy of the best traditions .., your son has made the supreme sacrifice, and we bow in homage to his memory.” “The Scouts Book of Heroes” gives more details of how Bob died: “Not the least dangerous part and trying part of the work was that of driving the ambulance cars from the small town where the section was stationed, up to the front. The road was frequently shelled by the Germans, and, the journey once started, there was, of course, no means of taking cover. One day, as Gidley, accompanied by one other man, was driving a car along this dangerous road, a fierce bombardment began. They put on their helmets and continued bravely to speed on towards the line. But the fire became so intense that they were obliged to halt with a view to drawing back, a little, and trying to find some cover. Gidley had just commenced to back the car, when, with a terrific explosion, a shell burst exactly in front of them and the glass windscreen was blown into a hundred pieces. Gidley’s companion, though shaken by the concussion, was unhurt, and thought at first that his friend had not received any injuries, either, as he remained sitting in his place, and the car continued to back. But it soon became evident that the brave young driver was unconscious and that he had received some terrible wounds in the head and neck. The shells were coming over every few seconds, and the other ambulance man decided that the wisest thing to do was to try to back the car into a safer position. This he did for some sixty yards, when the back wheels collapsed, and the car came to a standstill. With the help of some French soldiers and another ambulance, the brave young Scout was taken back to the hospital, where half an hour afterwards he died.” On 11 May 1917, the Chiswick Times gave further details of the circumstances of Bob’s death, reporting that the ambulance driver who had been due to drive that day had been taken ill, and Bob Gidley volunteered to take his place. The report also stated that the French Croix de Guerre had been conferred on the late Scout Gidley as a mark of his devotion to duty. The decoration was pinned to the flag covering the coffin, and has now been forwarded to Mr. and Mrs. Gidley. The Chiswick Times of 18 May 1917 carried a lengthy report on his memorial service, including the photo that is included at the start of this biography. The report of the memorial service says it was “very largely attended”, which seems a bit of an understatement. The service was held at St Michael and All Angels, Bedford Park: all 5 of the Chiswick scout troops attended, and a guard of honour was provided by the 10th Battalion Middlesex cadets. The French Red Cross was represented by Madame la Vicomtesse de la Panouse (Presidente) as well as its Director General, and there were also representatives from the French Embassy and the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office, in which Robert Gidley had served on voluntary service was represented by Councillor H.S. Martin (chief passport officer). He was a good Churchman, and said, “When I go to France I wonder if they will admit me to holy mass? I should like to make my communion.” The writer of the report of Robert Dudley’s death in the 4 May 1917 edition of Chiswick Times is anonymous, but was clearly a fellow Scout (having been part of the party of scouts in Belgium with him) and wrote: “Bob Gidley was possessed of a sweetness of disposition which, combined with a remarkable manliness for his years, gained him the affection of all those who knew him. To the writer the boy’s life was an inspiration, the memory of which will live long in the minds of those who had the privilege of his friendship. If every scout in Chiswick will but keep before his eyes the example of this very gallant gentleman, Bob Gidley’s life and death will not be in vain.” Robert Dudley Gidley is buried in Suippes French national cemetery. He is the only Englishman in 4500 French graves. SOURCES “The Scouts Book of Heroes”, from www.thedump.scoutscan.com Soldier’s Documents from Pension Claims, TNA, WO364/1343 TNA, General Register Office - Miscellaneous Foreign Death Returns, RG35/45. The Heroes of Chiswick website.

Judith Thomas