Four crosses inside the chapel of Magdalen College School, Brackley, L-R: 2Lt A H B Stace 25 Sqn RAF; Pvt A H Aldous 2/4 Londons; his brother Sgt F L Aldous 54 Canadian Infantry Bn; 2Lt W J Lidsey 16 Sqn RFC (shot down by the Red Baron)
Location:
Magdalen College School
Waynflete Avenue
Brackley
Northamptonshire
NN13 6FB
Cross 1
From CWGC
ARTHUR HOWARD BARTLETT STACE,
2Lt A H B Stace
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 03/05/1919
Age: 20
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Grave Reference: X. D. 1.
Cemetery: MONS (BERGEN) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Harry Percy and Charlotte Amy Stace, of “The Croft”, Brackley, Northants.
Concentration burial from Mons British Cemetery, All reburials were identiied by crosses grave markers, so this may be his original cross from there.
Cross 2
ARCHIBALD HARRY ALDOUS,
Pvt A H Aldous
Rank: Private
Service No: 295145
Date of Death: 21/09/1917
Age: 28
Regiment/Service: London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) “C” Coy. 4th Bn.
Grave Reference: X. G. 2.
Cemetery: TYNE COT CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Robert E. and Selina A. Aldous, of 8, Ellesmere Terrace, Brackley, Northants.
Another concentration reburial although it is unclear where from exactly. It also appears that his original grave was marked as unidentified and had no cross, so his marker may date from his reburial where it is possible he was identified.
Brother of:
Cross 3
FRANCIS LIDINGTON ALDOUS,
Sgt F L Aldous
Rank: Lance Sergeant
Service No: 706137
Date of Death: 15/04/1919
Age: 28
Regiment/Service: Canadian Infantry “C” Coy. 54th Bn.
Awards: M M
Grave Reference: Against North wall.
Cemetery: HOEILAART COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information: Son of Selina Annie Aldous, of 8, Ellismere Terrace, Brackley, Northants, and the late Robert Everett Aldous.
Further information:
War Diary 54th Battalion – On June 9, 1918 there was a Brigade church parade and a presentation of honours at DIEVAL, ribbons being pinned on the recipients by Maj – Gen. A. C. MacDonnell, CB, CMG, DSO, General Officer Commanding, 1st Canadian Division at which Pte. Aldous was recognized with his MM.
Died of self inflicted wound, gunshot wound in the right temple. Link here. (Image – courtesy Library of Canada). He was awarded the MIlitary Medal.
From the Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group website:
“Francis Lidington Aldous was born November 4, 1891 at Brackley, Northamptonshire, England, son of Robert Everett Aldous and Selina Annie Aldous.
Prior to the start of the war, Frank migrated to Canada and was living in Victoria, British Columbia working as a dairyman. Frank enlisted into the 103rd Battalion at Victoria on December 8, 1915 being assigned regimental number 706137. Pte. Aldous embarked from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Olympic on July 23, 1916 and disembarked at Liverpool on the 31st.
Pte. Aldous was posted to the 16th Canadian Reserve Battalion on January 9, 1917 prior to proceeding to France on the 20th and being taken on strength with the 54th Battalion on February 17, 1917.
During actions April 9, 1917 at Vimy Ridge, Pte. Aldous was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 30172, July 9, 1917) “in the attack by the 54th Canadian Infantry Battalion against VIMY RIDGE (BERTHONVAL SECTOR) on April 9th, 1917 assisted Pte. SHECK throughout to save his Lewis Gun in the most advanced outpost position reached by the Battalion. He kept the gun in action until only two of them were left, then assisted in withdrawing the gun to the line that was being consolidated and formed one of the crew to serve one of the guns as above mentioned. He proved of great assistance to Pte. SHECK.”
On April 18, 1917, Pte. Aldous was sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment No. 1 for Committing a Nuisance. He was subsequently seriously wounded by a gas shell while in the Vimy-Angres Line on June 11, 1917 and was evacuated to Boulogne not rejoining the Battalion until September 15, 1917.
Frank was promoted to Lance Corporal on August 13, 1918; to Corporal (to complete establishment) October 1, 1918; and, again to complete establishment, to Lance Sergeant the same day.
Frank must have led a charmed life as he went the remainder of the fighting without requiring medical treatment although he was involved in actions with the Battalion until the end of the war.
Alas, all was not well with Frank and, while awaiting repatriation, he was reported absent without leave on April 7, 1919 while the Battalion was at Hoeylaert, Belgium. He was last seen by a fellow Sergeant on April 8 who provided a statement to a Court of Inquiry indicating “Sgt. Aldous…..said he was going to Brussels…..and would return on Thursday morning, 10th instant. He had been drinking heavily for two weeks before the 8th April and while speaking to me he was trembling violently. He was in very poor shape indeed.”
At 09.00 hours April 15, Frank’s bunkmate noted Frank’s rifle was missing but thought nothing of it. At 13.45 hours Frank Aldous was found in the Foret de Soignes, deceased from a single gunshot wound to his right temple. A note in his pocket read To whoever finds me, I am Sergeant F. Aldous, 54th Battn., Canadians, Hoeylaert, Adieu.
He was 27 years old.”
Cross 4
LIDSEY, WILLIAM JOHN
W J Lidsey
Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 22/03/1917
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: Royal Flying Corps 16th Sqdn. and 1st/4th Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry
Grave Reference: V. A. 38.
Cemetery: AUBIGNY COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Additional Information: Son of William Isaac Richard and Emily Crosier Lidsey, of Banbury.
Further information:
He started the war as a Private in the 1/4 OBLI, before being commissioned. He took part in the fierce fighting for Pozieres in 1916.
William Lidsey and F/Sgt. Sidney Herbert Quicke of the R.F.C were shot down by Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (the Red Baron) at 17.30 on the 21st March 1917. This was kill no. 29 (he had 80 in total) and was flying a Halberstadt D.II aircraft, whilst Lidsey was flying a B.E.2e aircraft with the registration A3154. The incident happened above Hill 123, North of Neuville in France.
Main photo courtesy of Andrew White.
The photo you have alongside Francis Aldous’s info is actually William Lidsey. As for Lidsey, Von Richthofen was flying an Albatross when he shot him down, not a Halberstadt. Lidesy’s full story is in my book about him, ‘Fire-step to Fokker Fodder’