Petty Officer Thomas James Stafford Kiddey Royal Navy
1914-15 Star. 1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal. Royal Navy Long Service Medal.
The Man Thomas Stafford James Kiddey (James), was born on Monday 11th March 1867, or as given in his later service records, Monday 8th November 1869 in Fulham, London, son of Elijah a Gardener and Margaret nee Jennings. He had at least four siblings, Mary Anne born in 1860, Hannah Maria 1862 and Joseph 1864. James’ register of birth and subsequent census records show his first name as just James.
The 1871 census shows the family living at 1 Wheatsheaf Alley, Fulham but on Sunday 5th December 1875, aged 7, James, Hannah and Joseph were taken to the Fulham Union Workhouse by their parents who presumably could not afford to look after them, where on their admission they were described as ‘filthy’. They were however, removed from the establishment by Elijah five days later on Friday 10th December. A year later on 5th August 1876, James was again admitted for a week, this time as part of a sentence for stealing food.
By 1881, now aged 13, James was a student at the Hillfield Road, Boys Industrial School and following his education became a Page.
Perhaps understandably, on his 18th Birthday – given as 8th November 1887, he enlisted into the Royal Navy for 12 years at Chatham with service number 132879. In addition to a different birth date, he used the names Thomas Stafford James and was described as 5’ 2 and 5/8” tall with brown hair, brown eyes, a fresh complexion and a scar over his left eyebrow.
The first 10 years of his service with the RN are unknown, but he saw extensive service in Her and His Majesty’s Ships from 1897 on.
The 1871 census shows the family living at 1 Wheatsheaf Alley, Fulham but on Sunday 5th December 1875, aged 7, James, Hannah and Joseph were taken to the Fulham Union Workhouse by their parents who presumably could not afford to look after them, where on their admission they were described as ‘filthy’. They were however, removed from the establishment by Elijah five days later on Friday 10th December. A year later on 5th August 1876, James was again admitted for a week, this time as part of a sentence for stealing food.
By 1881, now aged 13, James was a student at the Hillfield Road, Boys Industrial School and following his education became a Page.
Perhaps understandably, on his 18th Birthday – given as 8th November 1887, he enlisted into the Royal Navy for 12 years at Chatham with service number 132879. In addition to a different birth date, he used the names Thomas Stafford James and was described as 5’ 2 and 5/8” tall with brown hair, brown eyes, a fresh complexion and a scar over his left eyebrow.
The first 10 years of his service with the RN are unknown, but he saw extensive service in Her and His Majesty’s Ships from 1897 on.
- Impregnable 29th April 1897 - 26th March.
- Royal Adelaide 27th March - 22nd April.
- Agamemnon 23 April - 21st April 1888.
- A Cruiser 22nd April - 4th July 1888. (Possibly a prison ship as there is a comment ‘cells’ on his record).
- Agamemnon till 15th February 1890.
- A Cruiser until 26th August
- Agamemnon until 15th December.
- Vivid 17th December - 20th April 1891.
- Nankin 21st April - 10th March 1892.
- Cambridge 11th March - 6th May.
- Vivid I 7th - 13th May.
- Bellona 14th May - 1st June 1894.
- Barrosa 2nd June - 28th August.
- Bellona 29th August - 18th May 189.
- Vivid I 19th – 28th May.
- Pembroke I 29th May - 4th June.
- Wildfire 5th June - 17th February 1896.
- Pembroke I 18th - 21st April.
- Grafton 22nd April 1896 - 4th October 1899. It was during this posting he was promoted to Leading Seaman on 16th April 1899 and Petty Officer 2nd Class on 29th August the same year.
- Pembroke I 5th October - 16th February 1900 during which time on 27th November his 12 year’s service expired and he reenlisted on 1st January 1900 and promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class on 16th February.
- Triton 17th February – 20th May.
- Pembroke I 21st -22nd May.
Reverse of 1914-15 Star.
The 1901 census shows him staying with his sister Mary and her family at 73 St John’s Square, Newbold St Dunstan, Chesterfield, he is listed as a ‘Sailor Seas’.
- Caledonia 23rd May - 6th August 1902.
- Pembroke I 7th August - 21st July 1904.
- Terpischore 22nd July - 17th September.
- Crescent 18th - 26th September.
- Simoom 27th September – 14th February 1905, whilst in Simoom he was awarded his Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for 15 years’ service, awarded on 25th January 1905.
- HMS Pembroke 15th February - 26th May.
- Vernon 27th May - 14th October.
- Pembroke 15th October - 19th March 1906.
- Lancaster 20th March – 6th April 1908.
- Pembroke 7th April - 7th May.
- Dominion 8th May - 1st June.
- Pembroke 2nd June – 16th January 1910, when aged 40 he was pensioned and retired from the RN, his service throughout being described as Very Good. The only exception being in 1888 when it was Good, this coinciding with his possible time in the cells.
In July 1910 Thomas became a Postman in London, his appointment appearing in the London and Edinburgh Gazettes of 2nd and 6th September 1910 respectively and in 1912 became a Porter. On 24th September 1910 eight months after having retired from the Navy, he also joined the Royal Fleet Reserve at Chatham, as a PO with the same service number. The 1911 census shows him as single living at 21 Tadema Road, Chelsea and an Assistant Postman and again simply as James.
He served on the reserve until 1st August 1914, when in HMS Wildfire he was called back into full time service in anticipation of World War I that began three days later. He was mainly assigned to Minesweeping duties and during World War I once again saw service in a number of HM Ships:
His funeral was held at Newbold Churchyard (St John the Evangelist) in Chesterfield on Saturday 12th October.
In addition to his long service medal Thomas was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge number 17606, his name appearing on this roll as Kinney.
Harriet lived another 18 years and passed away in the third quarter of 1936 aged 69.
He served on the reserve until 1st August 1914, when in HMS Wildfire he was called back into full time service in anticipation of World War I that began three days later. He was mainly assigned to Minesweeping duties and during World War I once again saw service in a number of HM Ships:
- Pembroke I 2nd August 1914 - 14th February 1915.
- HMS Cambria.
- Attentive 15th February - 27th August.
- Pembroke I 28th August - 2nd September.
- Columbine 3rd -30th September.
- Tyne 1st October - 30th April 1916.
- Crescent 1st May - 19th April 1917
- Pembroke I 20th April – 26th September 1917, when aged 47 he was discharged following a serious accident on board one of the ships.
His funeral was held at Newbold Churchyard (St John the Evangelist) in Chesterfield on Saturday 12th October.
In addition to his long service medal Thomas was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal, Victory Medal and Silver War Badge number 17606, his name appearing on this roll as Kinney.
Harriet lived another 18 years and passed away in the third quarter of 1936 aged 69.
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Naming around the Naval Long Service and World War I pair
The Story The medals awarded to Thomas Stafford James Kiddey were acquired from E-Bay on 4th August 2024, (coincidentally the 110th anniversary of the beginning of World War I). They were bought as a buy it now and of interest because of the Edward VII Royal Navy Long Service Medal, showing lengthy service prior to the war and some original papers with the group, including his death certificate.
Because of his unusual name, Ancestry enabled some detailed research to be undertaken including his RN service records, as did the newspaper archives, providing his obituary showing his cause of death, so young, to be understood.
Oddly his register of birth could not be located, perhaps unsurprisingly given the unusual surname (misspelt as Kinney on his later Silver War Badge papers and Kiddy on other records), the largely handwritten records in the 1860s and the fact that two different dates of birth appear for him within the records.
The only link available was his father’s name, Elijah appearing on his marriage certificate, but even this initially proved difficult to establish any definitive link beyond the 1871 census, showing him listed as James and born in 1887, one of the dates quoted in his service papers. Once he was searched for under James, born in 1897 his records were easier to find. The 1891 census showing him living with his sister and he listed as a Sailor, his sister’s marriage was also cross-referenced showing Elijah as her father.
Of interest was the fact he had been admitted to a workhouse when young, including a sentence for for stealing food.
A sad story of what one imagines is a typical upbringing in early Victorian London followed by a lengthy Naval career and then an early death. Quite why he used two dates of birth and a change of name to include Thomas and Stafford are unknown.
Because of his unusual name, Ancestry enabled some detailed research to be undertaken including his RN service records, as did the newspaper archives, providing his obituary showing his cause of death, so young, to be understood.
Oddly his register of birth could not be located, perhaps unsurprisingly given the unusual surname (misspelt as Kinney on his later Silver War Badge papers and Kiddy on other records), the largely handwritten records in the 1860s and the fact that two different dates of birth appear for him within the records.
The only link available was his father’s name, Elijah appearing on his marriage certificate, but even this initially proved difficult to establish any definitive link beyond the 1871 census, showing him listed as James and born in 1887, one of the dates quoted in his service papers. Once he was searched for under James, born in 1897 his records were easier to find. The 1891 census showing him living with his sister and he listed as a Sailor, his sister’s marriage was also cross-referenced showing Elijah as her father.
Of interest was the fact he had been admitted to a workhouse when young, including a sentence for for stealing food.
A sad story of what one imagines is a typical upbringing in early Victorian London followed by a lengthy Naval career and then an early death. Quite why he used two dates of birth and a change of name to include Thomas and Stafford are unknown.
The Courier. 19th October 1918.
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Medal Details:
- 1914-15 Star: 132879. T.S.J.KIDDEY. P.O..R.N.
- 1914-18 British War Medal: 132879 T.S.J.KIDDEY. P.O. R.N.
- Victory Medal: 132879 T.S.J.KIDDEY. P.O. R.N.
- Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: T.S.J.KIDDEY. P.O. 1.CL. H.M.S. SIMOOM.
This page last updated 10 Oct 24
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