Kerrison Kiddle

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Captain Kerrison Kiddle, C.B.E., R.N. (27 December, 1876 – 26 December, 1949) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Southsea the son of Fleet Paymaster R.N. J Kiddle, Esq., Kiddle gained twelve months' time on passing out of Britannia.

Kiddle was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1898.[1]

In 1904 Kiddle helped gather information on Algerian ports.

Kiddle was to travel to give evidence in a law case by 18 February, 1908.

On 15 December, 1908, Kiddle was appointed to Irresistible as first and torpedo officer. In 1909, a Court of Enquiry faulted Kiddle in the loss of a torpedo, judging that he fired a second one before a picket boat was ready to observe it. He was superseded in Irresistible on 15 October, 1909 and proceeded to Vernon to requalify in torpedoes. He emerged on 3 November and was appointed to Hannibal as first and torpedo officer.[2]

On 1 December, 1909, Kiddle married Hjordis Holter at Uranienberg Church, Christiana Norway.

Kiddle traveled to Norway for one month from late June 1911.

Kiddle was appointed to Andromeda as torpedo officer and for duty with ships of the 4th Division, Home Fleet on 16 November, 1911. He was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1911 shortly after recovering from the first hospital admission for an ulcer that would plague him as time went on, developing into chronic appendicitis in late 1913.[3]

On 1 February, 1912, Kiddle was appointed in command of Comet of the Second Destroyer Flotilla. His command ended in June, 1913 when paid her off and commissioned the new Contest.[4]

Kiddle was appointed in command of the destroyer Contest for a second time on 26 February, 1914.[5]

On 28 March 1915, Kiddle was blamed when Contest collided with King Orry, but no further action was taken.

On 8 August, 1915, he was back in Haslar with gastritis. On 24 September, he was found fit and sent to re-join Contest. But his condition would soon return and Kiddle was superseded in Contest on 23 January, 1916 after having been sent to a hospital ship the day before and judged "not likely to return for some time." Kiddle would be allowed to perform some work ashore at Dover supporting the Dover Patrol from 22 June, 1916 but not be declared fit before 15 September. To be on the safe side, perhaps, Kiddle was retained at Dover until being appointed in command of Active in March, 1917.

Kiddle was promoted to the rank of Acting Captain on 5 December, 1917.[6]

Kiddle was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1918.[7]

Post-War

On 24 May 1919, Kiddle was once again permitted to travel to Norway during his leave. He received a C.B.E. for his work in Greenwich and keeping the ships of Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla in top shape.[8]

In October 1920, Kiddle qualified as an interpreter in Norwegian after six month's study in the country.

In February, 1921, Kiddle was appointed in command of the light cruiser Undaunted. In April, the General Officer, Commanding Western Command thanked Kiddle for his exemplary services in command of "C" Portsmouth Battalion during the General Strike.

Placed on the Retired List at his own request on 3 July, 1922.

World War II

Kiddle offered his services in 1938. In 1942 he was appointed temporary Assistant Inspector (Civili) on staff of I.T.O., Weymouth, to be paid by Cashier Portland.

Kiddle died of myocardial failure, congestive failure and arteriosclerosis.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John P. Irven
Captain of H.M.S. Dasher
16 Jul, 1901[9]
Succeeded by
Harry C. J. R. West
Preceded by
Thomas D. Pratt
Captain of H.M. T.B. 93
c. Apr, 1904[10] – 17 May, 1904[11]
Succeeded by
Charles H. Beever
Preceded by
Francis G. St. G. Brooker
Captain of H.M.S. Comet
1 Feb, 1912[12] – 4 Jun, 1913[13]
Succeeded by
The Hon. William S. Leveson-Gower
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Contest
5 Jun, 1913[14][15] – Dec, 1913[16]
Succeeded by
Gerald L. Parnell
Preceded by
Gerald L. Parnell
Captain of H.M.S. Contest
26 Feb, 1914[17][18] – 23 Jan, 1916[19]
Succeeded by
John A. Scott
Preceded by
Neston W. Diggle
Captain of H.M.S. Active
Mar, 1917[20][21] – 30 Nov, 1917[22]
Succeeded by
Gordon Campbell
Preceded by
Rafe G. Rowley-Conwy
Captain of H.M.S. Greenwich
5 Dec, 1917[23][24] – 1 Mar, 1919[25]
Succeeded by
Nicholas E. Archdale
Preceded by
Lewis G. E. Crabbe
Captain of H.M.S. Saumarez
1 Mar, 1919[26] – 1 Oct, 1919[27]
Succeeded by
Frank Powell
Preceded by
George K. Chetwode
Captain (D), Fifth Destroyer Flotilla
1 Mar, 1919[28] – 1 Oct, 1919[29]
Succeeded by
Theodore E. J. Bigg
Preceded by
Ernest W. Denison
Captain of H.M.S. Undaunted
5 Feb, 1921[30] – 5 May, 1921[31]
Succeeded by
Henry P. Boyd

Footnotes

  1. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  2. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  3. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  4. "Naval And Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, Jun 02, 1913; pg. 3; Issue 40227.
  5. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 297.
  6. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  7. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  8. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  9. "The Naval Manoeuvres." The Times (London, England), Thursday, July 11, 1901, Issue 36504, p.8.
  10. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  11. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  12. The Navy List. (August, 1912). p. 294.
  13. "Naval And Military Intelligence." The Times (London, England), Monday, Jun 02, 1913; pg. 3; Issue 40227.
  14. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  15. The Navy List. (November, 1913). p. 298.
  16. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  17. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  18. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 393c.
  19. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  20. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  21. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 391b.
  22. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250. The month is not certain here.
  23. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  24. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 804.
  25. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  26. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  27. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  28. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  29. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  30. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.
  31. Kiddle Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44/250. f. 250.