PIDDUCK Norman Andrews 2/Lt

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Surname: PIDDUCK;

Forename(s): Norman Andrews;

Initials: NA;

Rank: 2/Lt;

Previous Regiment: N Staffs Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 102 Coy;

How killed: KIA;

Where: France;

When killed: 01-Jul-1916;

Other Data: Mill Hill School Register 1807-1926: b5/8/1895, son of Frederick James Pidduck, Grimsel, Park Rd, Hanley, Staffs; Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent (Jeweller). At School 1909-1913. Prefect, 3 XV, OTC, Maths Prize. Gt War 5 N Staffs R, 9 N Staffs (Pioneers), 102 MGC, France, MID, killed La Boiselle. PORTRAIT
PHOTO: GS Archives

Norman Andrews Pidduck, Second Lieutenant, Machine Gun Corps (Inf), 1st July 1916. Age 20. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Pidduck, of "Brooklyn", Sandbach Rd., Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent. Enlisted Aug. 1914 Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France, Pier and Face 5 C and 12 C

Norman Andrews Pidduck, Brooklyn, Alsager, Cheshire.
Born 5th August, 1895. 3, M.H. 1, 1909 to 7, 1913, School House. Prefect. Ousey Bowl. Swimming Team. School O.T.C. (Lance Corporal). Private, 5th North Staffs. Regt. Commissioned 21st February, 1914, 9th North Staff Pioneers. Transferred to 102nd Machine Gun Corps. Lieut. Served in France.
Mentioned in Dispatches. Killed 1st July, 1916, in the Battle of the Somme, at La Boisselle. An officer in the Machine Gun Corps wrote :- "The company went into action, and very few returned. Your gallant son was amongst the unfortunate. He fell while leading his section like a true soldier and gentleman. "His Sergeant told me that as he fell he turned towards him with a smile, as much as to say, `Carry on, I'm quite all right.' "His men loved him; perhaps he was the most loved officer in the company. He was ever a gentleman and a friend. . . . Your son will never be forgotten while a single member of the company remains." "I am to express to you the King's high appreciation of these services, and to add that His Majesty trusts that their public acknowledgment may be of some consolation in your bereavement." "The Brigade Commander deplores the death of 2nd Lieut. N. A. Pidduck, and desires to express to you his deepest sympathy." "Lieut. Pidduck died a soldier's death." "He was killed in action, most gallantly leading his section."
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick James Pidduck. Photo (Mill Hill School Register)

MID in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch. Only son of Mr FJ Pidduck JP of the firm of Henry Pidduck & Sons Ltd of Lord St, Southport and of Mrs Pidduck of Alsager. Joined 5 N Staffs in Aug 1914. He was commissioned to the N Staffs Regt and transferred to the MG section and went to France in May 1916. His cousin Lt Eric W Pidduck Welsh regt only son ofMr and Mrs EJ Pidduck, also a member of the firm was wounded and taken POW in Sept 1915 at Loos and in Germany. (Southport Visiter 20/1/17)

2nd Lieutenant Norman Andrews Pidduck 9 N Staffs attd 102 Company MGC
Born 5/8/95. Son of Frederick James Pidduck of Station Rd., Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent. Embarked Southampton 25/4/16 and disembarked Le Havre. Originally enlisted at Hanley on 28/8/14 in 5 N Staffs as No 2725, born at Hanley, he was a jeweller by trade. Discharged to commission 22/2/15 in the N Staffs. Height 5' 9" and weight 10 St, complexion dark, eyes gray, hair dark brown, religion congregationalist. His commission application states that he was unmarried, he gave his father’s address above as his permanent address, and his address for correspondence ‘F’ Company 5 North Staffs, Saffron Waldon. His father late moved to ‘Brooklyn’, Alsager. Returned to his father after his death was an ID Disk, tobacco pouch, cigarette holder and case, pencil, fuse for a lighter and a letter. In December 1916 his father was 64 [of ‘Brooklyn’Alsager], his mother Ellen Mary Pidduck was 56, his half sister Mrs Hannah Harrison was 36 and lived at ‘Field House’, Alsager. (Officers Papers PRO)

Educated at Newcastle High School and at Mill Hill where he was in the OTC for 3 years. Commissioned in N Staffs in Feb 1915 and then transferred to the MGC in Jan 1916 going to France in April with a MG Coy. (Birmingham Daily Post 12/7/16 and Court Journal 21/7/16)

War Diary 102 Coy - after crossing the first line was killed by a bullet in the side;

Other Notes: PIDDUCK, Second Lieutenant, NORMAN ANDREWS, Mentioned in Despatches, 102nd Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Inf). Killed in action at La Boiselle 1st July 1916. Age 20. Son of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Pidduck, of "Brooklyn", Sandbach Rd., Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent. Enlisted Aug., 1914 Pier and Face 5 C and 12 C. Thiepval Memorial - Somme, France.
NB: MID not traced in awards to MGC;

Is photo available? Yes, see VMGCRA Patreon

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