Private Theodore Ernest Gidley
7th later 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment
Killed in Action
Date of Birth: 13th January 1877
Place of Birth: Christow, Devon
Date of Death: 5th October 1918
Buried: Buried on Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy, Aisne France. Remembered on the Christow War Memorial
Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal
Theodore Ernest Gidley was born on 13th January 1877 in Christow, Devon. He entered Christow Primary School 29th August 1881.
Theodore was the grandson of Gustavus and Elizabeth Gidley. Gustavus Gidley was a master cooper in Wonson, Throwleigh, where his son, George was born in 1827. The Gidley family ran the New Inn in Wonson in 1851, with George following his father’s trade of barrel-making, not yet a master, but a journeyman craftsman.
In 1861, although George is described as a lead miner when boarding at Stratton, Christow, he was probably making barrels for the mine.
By 1881 George was running the Palk Arms in Christow with this wife, Elizabeth. Their sons Arthur Charles and Theodore Ernest would both serve in WW1, but now they were just 6 and 4 years old.
By 1891, Elizabeth was a widow, and her son Arthur Charles was a barman in the inn, Theodore probably helped.
Bessley's Street Directory Clipping
In 1901, Theodore was living with and assisting, his grandfather Gustavus, now a wool dealer and they lived at Church Hill in Honiton.
Theodore must have met his future wife, Florence Kate Turl, here. They were married in 1907 in the Exeter area and, in 1908, their son Maurice Theodore was born. Florence died in 1951 aged 69.
In 1911, Theodore and his family were living at 4 Taddyforde Road, St Davids, Exeter. He was a Commercial Traveller in corn and wool.
Devonshire Regiment
cap badge
Theodore Ernest Gidley enlisted in Exeter and was a Private in the 9th Service Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, Service Number 291071. He was killed in action five weeks before the end of the war, during the final advance at Beaurevoir on the Somme, on 5th October 1918, he was age 41.
Florence would have received his Victory and British medals at their home at 8 Park Road, Longbrook Street, Exeter.
Theodore is buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gouy, France, the inscription says "Of Christon, Exeter, Devon" (which is a mispelling). He is also remembered on the Christow WW1 War Memorial.
Download commemorative certificate (PDF)
The Christow WW1 War Memorial
Theodore's wife, Florence Kate Gidley was engaged with the Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D) from 27th December, 1916 to 27th July, 1918. During this time Florence worked at the Netley Royal Victoria Military Hospital, Near Southampton, Hampshire.
With thanks to The Gidley Family History Blog
