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4274 (1851034)
Foreman of Works Quartermaster Sergeant
ROWLAND TIDD
Royal Engineers 

By 

Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis, MSCE, BSAE, PE, MinstRE
(January 2025) 

Figure 1. Foreman of Works QMS Rowland Tidd, R.E.
(Image from the author’s postcard collection) 

1. INTRODUCTION  

The postcard photograph above was dated 27-2-1915 by QMS Tidd when he signed his name in the lower right hand corner.  In the course of this research on his life and military service I discovered that his Great War trio of medals had been in the collection of a very close friend of mine, Quartermaster Sergeant Ray Lehman, Royal Canadian Engineers, who saw service during World War 2.  After Ray’s death the medals passed to someone else who I am certain is caring for them as Ray did.

2. FAMILY INFORMATION 

Raymond Tidd was born in Wakefield, a cathedral city in West Yorkshire located on the River Calder, on 27 June 1881.  He was the son of John Tidd (1830-1908) and Mary Elizabeth Tidd, née Oxley.[1]  The 1881 Census of England shows that John Tidd was a Beerhouse keeper at the Robin Hood Inn Public House located 187 Horbury Road in Wakefield.  He is listed as a Widower on the census form. 

Figure 2.  The Robin Hood Inn, Wakefield, Yorkshire.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia) 

John Tidd had been married three times; first to a Margaret Johnson (1834-?)  in 1855, then to a Mary Lodge (1823-1880) in 1866 and finally to Mary Elizabeth Oxley in 1891.[2]  If the John Tidd family tree is accurate, John married Mary ten years after the birth of Rowland, but in the 1891 Census only John and Rowland are shown living in the Robin Hood Inn.  The only conclusion that one can reach is that Rowland was born out of wedlock. 

3. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION 

The following is a description of Rowland Tidd at the time of his enlistment in the Royal Engineers in 1900.[3] 

(*) A condition known as Heterochromia.  It is due to a harmless genetic mutation. Other causes include congenital and acquired conditions such as an eye injury.

The above description of Tidd was made on 22 January 1900 at the time of a medical examination performed to determine his fitness to serve in the Army.  He was determined to be medically and physically fit.

4. ENLISTMENT AND TRAINING 

Enlistment

Tidd was enlisted for service in the Royal Engineers at Sheffield, Yorkshire on 22 January 1900.  On his enlistment he was asked a number of questions that appeared on his Short Service attestation form.  To these questions he gave the following responses: 

·         Age: 18 years and 7 months.

·         Trade: Bricklayer.

·         He was not an Apprentice.

·         He was not married.

·         He had never been sentenced or imprisoned by Civil Power.

·         He had previously served in the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry for 39 days and had been discharged by purchase.

·         He had never been rejected for service.

·         He was willing to be vaccinated or re-vaccinated.

·         He was willing to enlist in the Royal Engineers.

·         He was willing to serve for 12 years.

On the same date as his attestation, Tidd was given a Primary Military Examination and was found to be fit for service in the Royal Engineers.  Certainly his civil trade as a Bricklayer had much to do with this finding.  His attestation was approved on 24 January 1900 and he then became 4274 Sapper Rowland Tidd, Royal Engineers.

Training

Following the administrative actions involved with his enlistment, Tidd was sent off for his recruit training to the School of Military Engineering (SME) at Brompton Barracks in Chatham, Kent.  With the exception of Drivers, every recruit enlisted for the Royal Engineers had to have a trade.  Pioneers and Sappers were sent to Chatham where they were trained in infantry drill and pioneer duties.  The engineer recruits also received musketry training.  When the course of training was completed the recruits had to pass an examination and were then transferred to engineer formations, where they received higher pay and could earn extra allowances by working at their special trades.  Tidd was a bricklayer in civil life before he enlisted, so it is most likely that he was trained as a Mason.

While Sapper Tidd was undergoing his training at the SME he was awarded a Second Class Certificate of Education.  A Second Class Certificate of Education, necessary for promotion to sergeant, entailed writing and dictation from a more difficult work, familiarity with all forms of regimental accounting, and facility with proportions and interest, fractions and averages.  The 1901 Census of England shows Tidd as a Sapper residing at Gillingham, Kent.  Gillingham is a town adjacent to Chatham and this census surely was taken at Brompton Barracks.          

5. POSTINGS, ASSIGNMENTS AND CAMPAIGN SERVICE[4]

Chatham (1901-1904) 

Upon completion of his recruit training it appears that Tidd was posted to “B” Company of the Training Battalion Royal Engineers (TBRE) at Chatham.  On 1 May 1901 he was appointed an Unpaid Lance Corporal.  This appointment would indicate that he had performed well during his recruit training and that he may have been given an assignment as an assistant instructor at the SME. 

On 13 July 1901, while he was still serving with “B” Company of the TBRE, Tidd was appointed a paid Lance Corporal and on 22 January 1902 he was awarded Good Conduct Pay at the rate of one penny (1d.) per day in addition to his regular pay.  His service papers indicated that the 39 days of his service with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry were allowed to reckon towards his pension and Good Conduct Pay. 

The award of Good Conduct Pay meant that the soldier had never been punished for any offense.  In addition to the extra pay the recipient was authorized to wear a badge in the shape of a ^, pointing upwards, on the lower sleeve of the left arm.  During the period of Tidd’s service, the first of these badges was awarded after 2 years, the second after 6 years, and the third up to the sixth respectively after 12, 18, 23, and 28 years of service.  Every badge brought an extra penny a day.  In case of punishment the soldier forfeited this extra pay or a part of it, but could recover it by good conduct.  These extra payments and badges were only awarded to men from the rank of corporal and below.[5]  Tidd would ultimately receive four Good Conduct badges (see Figure 1 above). 

After four years of service Rowland Tidd decided that the military life was for him.  On 17 March 1904 he voluntarily extended his service to complete 8 years with the Colours.  He received a medical examination at this time and was found to be fit for continued service.  His application to extend his service was approved. 

On 1 April 1904 Tidd was awarded Service Pay, Class I at the rate of 6d.  Service Pay in addition, to their regular pay, was granted to men in the Royal Engineers who demonstrated proficiency in their military trades.  Service Pay was awarded in seven classes, with Class I being the highest.  The fact that Tidd was awarded Service Pay at the highest class without going through the awards of the lower classes is very interesting.  It appears that he was considered to be exceptionally well qualified in his trade, perhaps that of Mason as previously discussed.  Since he was serving in the Training Battalion at the time, it is possible that he might have even been an instructor of new recruits in the trade of Mason.  On 1 July 1904 he was promoted to the rank of 2^nd Corporal, a promotion that again may emphasize his outstanding military proficiency in his trade. 

Jamaica (1904-1906) 

On 1 October 1904 2^nd Corporal Tidd was posted to the 1^st half of the 44^th Fortress Company on the island of Jamaica.  While half of this company was serving on Jamaica, the 2^nd half was at Victoria, British Columbia.  He arrived at Jamaica on 28 October 1904 and on 13 December he was awarded Good Conduct Pay at 2d.[6] 

Continuing to improve his education with a mind to seek advancement in the ranks, Tidd was awarded a First Class Certificate of Education on 26 September 1905.  First-class certificates were a great deal more difficult to obtain and were required for commissions from the ranks.  Successful candidates had to read and take dictation from any standard author; make a fair copy of a manuscript; demonstrate their familiarity with more complicated mathematics, except cube and square root and stocks and discount; and as well prepare for examination in at least one of a number of additional subjects.  After 1887 candidates were examined in British history and geography in place of a special subject.  First-class certificates were awarded on the results of periodic examinations held by the Council (later Director-General) of Military Education.[7]  

With his military career progressing smoothly, on 5 July 1906 Tidd extended his service to complete 18 years with the Colours and on 19 December of that year he returned home from Jamaica. 

Chatham (1907-1908) 

Upon his return to the U.K. he was selected to attend the Military Foreman of Works Course, probably at Chatham.  He was initiated in the Masonic Brownrigg Lodge of Unity at the King's Arms Hotel on Westcourt Street in Old Brompton, Kent on 4 July 1907.  The lodge roster shows him as a Corporal in the Royal Engineers, although he actually was a 2^nd Corporal at that time. 

On 13 December 1907 Tidd completed the Military Foreman of Works Course with a rating of “Skilled.”  On 21 September 1908 he was promoted to Foreman of Works Staff Sergeant and his records were transferred from the Regimental List to the Establishment for Engineer Services (EES) List.  He received his third Good Conduct Badge on 22 January 1912.  He was authorized the badge, but as a Staff Sergeant he did not receive the extra pay of 1d.[8] 

The term Establishment for Engineer Services had been used for a number of years to describe the duties of the Royal Engineers in connection with a number of different services to include: 

·         Building Construction Branch.

·         Army Service Corps Support Branch.

·         Military Lands Branch.

·         Electrical Branch. 

·         Mechanical Branch

After joining the EES he was posted to the office of the Commander Royal Engineers (CRE) in the Yorkshire District where he probably was assigned duties related to building construction and the use of materials.  This work would have dealt primarily with the construction and maintenance of barracks.  Other works undertaken might include hospitals and Army Ordnance buildings.  With regard to the latter, the work included not only the buildings themselves, but also the provision and maintenance of fixed machinery and the construction and maintenance of magazines and buildings for the storage of explosives, with special attention to precautions against fire and protection against lightning.  

On 14 January 1911 Tidd was again given a medical examination for extension of service, this time to complete 21 years with the Colours.  The 1911 Census of England shows Staff Sergeant Tidd at Ecclesall, Yorkshire, probably the location of the CRE’s office to which he was assigned.  When the Great War broke out it appears that Tidd was still at Ecclesall and was hospitalized in September 1914 with pneumonia for a second time.  He was not discharged from hospital until 19 November 1914 and appears to have returned to duties with the CRE’s office or perhaps was granted some convalescent leave.  Within a year he would be abroad on active service in the war. 

Egypt (1915-1916) 

Foreman of Works Staff Sergeant Tidd was posted to the 287^th Army Troops Company under the command of Captain G.R. Cassels, R.E.  At the time of his posting the company was in the U.K.  Tidd and his company embarked for Egypt on 21 September 1915. 

Army Troops Companies worked primarily in the rear area on water supply, corps defence lines, observation posts for artillery, gun positions for heavy artillery, trench tramways, road-screening, corps engineer dumps and workshops and erection of hangars for the Royal Flying Corps.  Army Troops Companies were smaller than divisional field companies.  They were established with three officers and 139 other ranks, but they were provided with mechanical transport which was an advantage they had over the divisional companies. 

When Tidd left the U.K. his wife was eight months pregnant.  She gave birth to their daughter, Lucy Aileen on 3 October 1915.  Tidd arrived in Egypt on 15 October and his infant daughter died on 29 October.  He probably did not receive word of his daughter’s birth or her death for quite some time after his arrival in Egypt and the news most certainly had an affect on his morale.  He served with the 287^th Army Troops Company until 18 August when he was posted for duty in Salonika.[9] 

Salonika (1916-1917) 

Tidd arrived at Salonika on 19 August 1916 and was posted to the office of the Deputy Director of Works, Salonika, Colonel John Prestwich Blakeway (1867-1936)[10] and on 27 August he was reassigned to the office of the Assistant Director of Works, Salonika Base, under the command of Colonel Arthur Reynold Reynolds.[11]  In these postings he performed EES duties in support of the British Salonika Force.  The British Salonika Force (BSF) – also known as the British Salonika Army (BSA) – was commanded by Lieutenant General George Francis Milne from May 1916, following General Sir Bryan Mahon's posting to Egypt. At its height – late 1916 to early 1917 – it comprised six infantry divisions, grouped into two corps.  While not with a front line unit, Tidd was present in Salonika for two major battles at Doiran, the first from 24-25 April 1917 and the second from 8-9 May 1917. 

Mudros (1917) 

Tidd was posted to Mudros, a town on the island of Lemnos, Greece in the north Aegean Sea, on 11 May 1917.  He departed Salonika on 13 May and reported to the office of the Director of Works, Mudros upon his arrival.  His stay on Mudros was a short one.  He may have been posted there only on special duty to perform some task for which he was especially qualified.  In any case he returned to Salonika on 27 December 1917 where he resumed his previous duties. 

Salonika (1917-1919) 

On 4 February 1918 Staff Sergeant Tidd was attached to the headquarters of the 82^nd Heavy Artillery Group (Brigade) of the Royal Garrison Artillery.  This brigade consisted of the following batteries: 

·         43^rd Siege Battery

·         82^nd Siege Battery

·         185^th Heavy Battery

·         192^nd Heavy Battery

·         196^th Heavy Battery

On 13 April 1918 he was attached to the 43^rd Siege Battery where he worked in support of the heavy guns in this battery.[12]  On 27 April he ceased to be attached to the 43^rd Siege Battery, as the unit was disbanded.  He then rejoined the headquarters of the brigade.  On 26 June 1918 Tidd was promoted to Foreman of Works Quartermaster Sergeant (Warrant Officer Class II). 

Tidd joined the 143^rd Army Troops Company[13] under the command of Major G.B.O. Taylor, R.E. on 28 September 1918.  At that time the company formed part of Corps Troops in the British XVI Corps and was involved with the passage of the Vardar River and the pursuit of enemy forces to the Strumica Valley.  On 1 October 1918 Tidd was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (GVR) with annuity and was awarded the fourth Good Conduct Badge. 

Tidd embarked for home leave, via Taranto, Italy on 13 November 1918.  The war had already ended but he was obliged to return to Salonika on 4 January 1919.  On 1 March 1919 he rejoined his old unit, the 287^th Army Troops Company that was now with the British XII Corps, and he remained with the company for demobilization.  Tidd embarked on 9 March 1919 for home, again via Taranto, Italy. 

Chatham (1919-1921) 

On arriving home Tidd was posted to “G” Depot Company at Chatham.  On 13 March 1920 he was re-vaccinated against small pox, probably as a precaution against the unhealthy conditions that he was exposed to in Egypt, Salonika and Mudros.  During this period he also was assigned Army Number 1851034 in accordance with the change adopted in the Army to have the men use these numbers in place of the old regimental numbers issued by each regiment.  By Army Council Instructions, the Royal Engineers were issued army numbers ranging from 1842001 to 2303000. 

Foreman of Works Quartermaster Sergeant Rowland Tidd was discharged from the Army on 21 January 1921.  Despite his many health problems while in the service, he did not claim any disability.

            The following sections are presented in tabular form to summarize Tidd’s promotions, appointments, military training, qualifications, the medals that he was awarded during his time in the Army and his medical history.  They are provided to give the reader easy access to these aspects of his military career.  The tables are followed by sections dealing with his marriage, personal information and post-service life.

6.  PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

a.  Promotions:  Tidd received the following promotions during his time in service:

NOTE: Tidd may have been on an accelerated promotion schedule during his time in the ranks.  His service papers seem to indicate that he was promoted to Staff Sergeant directly from the rank of 2^nd Corporal without ever being promoted to the ranks of Corporal or Sergeant. 

b.   Appointments:  Tidd received the following appointments during his time in service:

7. MILITARY TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

a.  Military Training:

In addition to his recruit training, Tidd attended the Military Foreman of Works Course. 

b.   Qualifications:

Tidd qualified as a “Skilled” Military Foreman of Works.

8. MEDALS, AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

For his service during the Great War, Foreman of Works Tidd was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.  He also was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (GVR).  These medals are shown below, from left to right. 

Figure 3.  Medals of the Type Awarded to F. of W. QMS Rowland Tidd, R.E.
(Images from the author’s collection)

NOTE: These are not Tidd’s medals.  They are presented here for illustrative purposes only. 

Figure 4.  The Medal Index Card of Foreman of Works Rowland Tidd, R.E.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com) 

In the Medal Index Card it shows that Tidd qualified for the 1914-15 Star when he was sent to Egypt on 21 September 1915.

9. MEDICAL HISTORY

The table below provides an outline of Tidd’s medical problems during his time in service.

NOTES

(a)   His discharge from hospital on 4 March 1902 and readmission on the following day seems rather strange.  Getting pneumonia during a hospital stay was not a rare occurrence in those days as bacteria was spread from patient to patient very easily.

(b)   He was admitted to the 3^rd Northern General Hospital, a hospital with a capacity  for  57 officers and 1,360 other ranks.

Figure 5.  The Crest of the 3^rd Northern General Hospital.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia) 

(c)   Phlebotomus fever, also known as sandfly fever.  Sandfly fever is a self-limiting infectious disease which occurs only in humans as a result of sandfly (Phlebotomus) bite. It leads to different symptoms including fever, rash, diffuse muscle pain, headache, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting.

10.  RELEASE FROM SERVICE 

Foreman of Works Quartermaster Sergeant Rowland Tidd was released from service on 21 January 1921.  His total service was reckoned as shown in the tables below: 

11.   MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

Marriage 

Tidd married Lucy Melita Galton (1882-1944)[15] at St. Marks Church in New Brompton, Chatham, with leave,[16] on 14 July 1909.  Lucy died on 26 November 1944 at Folkestone, Kent, age 62 years.  She was buried at Hawkinge Cemetery and Crematorium, Plot N210, in Hawkinge, Kent.  As described in the narrative, Lucy Tidd gave birth to a daughter, Lucy Aileen, on 3 October 1915 while her husband was en route to Egypt.  She had been baptized in St. John the Baptist Church in Sheffield, Yorkshire on 22 October 1915.  Little Lucy Aileen died on 29 October 1915 from unknown causes.  She was buried on 1 November 1915 in Wardsend Cemetery in Sheffield, Plot C 301.  At the time of her daughter’s death, Lucy Tidd was living at 12 Wilmot Terrace in Sheffield while Rowland was away. 

Rowland Tidd married Isabel Reynolds in Folkestone in 1952.  They do not appear to have had any children.

Siblings 

As previously described, John Tidd, Rowland’s father, had been married three times.  With his first wife, Margaret Johnson, he had a daughter, Anne Tidd (1861-?).  This half-sister is the only known sibling of Rowland Tidd.

12.  POST SERVICE LIFE

In 1939 Rowland and Lucy M. Tidd were living at 27 St. Francis Road in Folkestone, Kent.  Rowland was working as a Clerk of Works for the War Department.  As a former Foreman of Works Quartermaster Sergeant in the Royal Engineers, this would have been an ideal position for him to fill in civil life. 

Figure 6.  27 St. Francis Road, Folkestone, Kent.
(Image courtesy of Google Earth)

Rowland Tidd died at the Royal Victoria Hospital on Radnor Park Avenue in Folkestone on 25 December 1962.  He was buried on 1 January 1963 at Hawkinge Cemetery and Crematorium in Hawkinge, Kent, Plot N 210, in the same grave as his first wife, Lucy. 

Figure 7.  Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkestone.
(Image courtesy of Wikipedia)

REFERENCES:

Books 

1. BAKER BROWN, W.  The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers.  Volume IV.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1952.

2. CONOLLY, T.W.J.  Roll of Officers of the Corps of Royal Engineers From 1660 to 1898.  The Royal Engineers Institute, Chatham, Kent, 1898.

3. GRIERSON, J.M.  Scarlet Into Khaki: The British Army on the Eve of the Boer War.  Greenhill Books, London, 1988.

4. INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS.  The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers.  Volume VI.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1952.

5. SKELLEY, A.R.  The Victorian Army At Home: The Recruitment and Terms and Conditions of the British Regular, 1859-1899.  Mc Gill-Queen’s University Press, Montreal, 1977.

Census 

1. 1891 Census of England (RG 12/3753).

2. 1901 Census of England (RG 13/738).

3. 1911 Census of England.

4. 1939 Census of England.  

Civil Documents 

Mason’s Brownrigg Lodge of Unity, Old Brompton, Members Log. 

Family Tree 

1. Ancestry.com: Rowland Tidd Family Tree.

2. Ancestry.com: John Tidd Family Tree.

Internet Web Sites 

1. The Long, Long Trail: 26^th Division.

https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/order-of-battle-of-divisions/26th-division/

2. Wikipedia: Pappataci fever.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pappataci_fever

3. Find a Grave.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234398663/rowland-tidd 

Medal Documents 

1. Medal Roll, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

2. Medal Index Card.  

Service Papers 

1. Short Service Attestation (Army Form R. 265.).

2. Description on Enlistment.

3. Statement of Services.

4. Military History Sheet.

5. Medical Board Report (Army Form W. 5134).

6. Medical History (Army Form B. 178).

7. Service and Casualty Form (Army Form B. 103-1).

8. Casualty Form – Active Service (Army Form B. 103).

 ENDNOTES