Ernest Kiddier

Ernest was the only son of William Kiddier and Ellen Kiddier nee Palmer. William Kiddier was born in Loughborough in 1859 and Ellen Palmer in Nottingham, also in 1859. They were married in Nottingham in 1885 (marriage registered O/N/D) and had two children, Ernest (b. 1886, O/N/D) and Alice (b. 1888, J/A/S). William had his own brush making business and was also a notable painter and author (see 'extra information'). In 1891 William (31) and Ellen (31) were living at 10 Promenade, Nottingham, with their two young children, Ernest (4) and Alice (2). By 1901 the family had moved to 10 Victoria Villas, Nottingham, and William now employed a general domestic servant, Annie Webster (23). Only Ernest's parents and sister, Alice (12) were at home on the night of the census; Ernest's whereabouts have not yet been traced on this census. Ernest was, though, in the family home at 19 Zulla Road, Basford, on the night of the 1911 census along with his father and sister. However, on this occasion, his mother was not in the house on the night of the census. The family still had a live-in general domestic servant, now Kate Matilda Booth (20). Ernest married Ellen Forbes (b. 2 June 1888) in 1914, marriage registered J/A/S Nottingham; no information has yet been found to suggest that they had any children. At the time of Ernest's death in 1918 they were living at 43 Premier Road, Nottingham. Ellen Forbes married John R Roxburgh in 1921 (O/N/D Marylebone, Middlesex) and was living at 7 Knaresborough Place, London SW5, when she died on 30 January 1973 at the age of 84. Ernest's family later lived at 12 South Parade, Nottingham, where his father, William, had his brush making business and also a studio on the top floor. However, after William's retirement in about 1924 the family moved to 3 Marlborough Road, Woodthorpe. Ellen died on 6 July 1932 at the age of 72 and William two years later on 22 February 1934 aged 74. Alice, his unmarried sister, died on 19 January 1969 aged 81.

In 1911 he was assisting in his father's business.

Ernest served in the Royal Garrison Artillery as 108211 Gunner E. Kiddier and was commissioned Second Lieutenant from an Officer Cadet Unit on 2 December 1917. He was killed in action the following September and is buried in Queant Communal Cemetery British Extension

Nottingham Evening Post ‘Roll of Honour’, Friday 27 September 1917. ‘Sec. Lieut Ernest Kiddier, RGA, only son of Mr and Mrs Wm Kiddier, 19, Aulla-road, Nottingham, and husband of Mrs Kiddier, 43, Premier-road, was killed in action on September 17th.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchives.co.uk) Probate: Kiddier Ernest of 43 Premier-road Nottingham lieutenant in HM Army died 17 September 1918 in France Probate Nottingham 7 January to Ellen Forbes Kiddier widow. Effects £636 16s. 3d. Probate: Kiddier Ellen otherwise Helen of 3 Marlborough-road Woodthorpe Nottinghamshire (wife of William Kiddier) died 6 July1932 Probate Nottingham 18 October to the said William Kiddier retired brush manufacturer and Alice Kiddier spinster. Effects £6348 18s. 11d. Probate: Kiddier William of 3 Marlborough-road Woodthorpe Arnold Nottinghamshire died 22 February 1934 Probate Nottingham 5 June to Alice Kiddier spinster. Effects £28259 5s. 10d. Resworn £20886 13s. 1d. Nottingham Evening Post, 23 February 1934: ‘Nottingham Artist Passes. Business man who became noted for paintings. Authoritative Writer. The art life of Nottingham has sustained a severe loss through the death of Mr William Kiddier, which occurred yesterday at his residence, 3 Marlborough-road, Woodhorpe. He was 74. For many years Mr Kiddier had been a prominent figure in the local art world, but his fame as a painter spread far beyond Nottingham. Representative exhibitions of his pictures had been held from time to time In other cities, and examples purchased by several well known art galleries … The Nottingham Castle Art Gallery is the possessor of a striking composition, ‘The Dyke’ …The city reference library also possesses some of the artist’s best known efforts in black and white … Mr Kiddier wrote about art as well as practising it …Mr Kiddier was born at Loughborough. After coming to Nottingham he founded a brush-making business in South-parade, where he had a studio on the top floor, but about 10 years ago he disposed of the business to the Royal Midland Institution for the Blind … Mr Kiddier leaves a daughter. His only son, Ernest Kiddier, was killed in the war.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchives.co.uk)