Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An unusual ‘naval deserter’ Great War pair awarded to Stoker First Class H. W. Kidwell, Royal Navy, late South Wales Mounted Brigade, Army Service Corps, a Swansea lad who lied about his age on his attestation documents and served in the British Army when just 15 years old.

Discharged ‘under age’, he joined the Royal Navy on 6 July 1917 and deserted at Quebec enroute to his first posting, spending the next 10 weeks on the run in Canada

British War and Victory Medals (K.43774 H. W. Kidwell. Sto.1 R.N.) nearly extremely fine (2) £70-£90

Henry William Kidwell was born in Swansea on 21 June 1899. A packer, he attested for the South Wales Mounted Brigade on 6 April 1915 and served at home as part of the transport and supply column. Declaring his age as 18 years and 10 months, the truth was discovered a year later and he was discharged ‘under age’ from the 3rd Provisional Brigade Train, Army Service Corps, on 23 June 1916, just a couple of days after his 17th birthday.

Unperturbed and likely keen to serve and receive a serviceman’s wage, Kidwell travelled south and joined the Royal Navy at Devonport on 6 July 1917. Posted to H.M.S. Diana on 2 October 1917 - which was at that time stationed in Hong Kong and awaiting a crew changeover - Kidwell’s service papers state ‘Run 24/10/17, Citadel at Quebec’. They later add: ‘Deserter surrendered, to be dealt with summarily, sent to Admiralty and C in C, N.A., 10-1-18.’

Despite his Canadian exploits, it seems that the Royal Navy offered leniency towards the young man who had been so keen to contribute in the past. Re-entering service at Devonport on 31 March 1918, he served aboard the dreadnought battleship H.M.S. Conqueror from 27 May 1918 and was raised Stoker 1st Class on 18 July 1918. Demobilised on 23 August 1919, Kidwell took civilian employment as a boot repairer and master leather dealer in Swansea. He died in Swansea on 25 September 1968.