condensed discuss document expanded export feedback print share remove reset document_white enquire_white export_white report_white

Cenotaph record

Rudal Kidson

-
Lay a poppy
Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War II Hall of Memories Panel J_016. Image taken June 2020.

Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War II Hall of Memories Panel J_016. Image taken June 2020.

© Auckland Museum CC BY AWMM

Identity

About

Contribute ›
  • Title
  • Forenames
    Rudal AWMM
  • Surname
    Kidson AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    • WWII 41297 AWMM
    • WWII NZ41297 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

Contribute ›
  • Birth
    7 May 1914 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
    Sheep Farmer Public - Ian Banks - Researcher - 23 June 2020 - Research
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW2 Mr & Mrs G.R. Kidson (parents), Tauranga, New Zealand AWMM
    • WW2 Sister: Mrs. S. Sunich. C/o Grant & Evans. P. O. Box 32, Inglewood AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single/WWII AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

Contribute ›

Military decorations

Contribute ›

Training and Enlistment

Contribute ›
  • Military training
    • Civil Flying School, Hatfield AWMM
    • RAF, Uxbridge AWMM
    • No 3 FTS, Shellingford AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    29 August 1938 AWMM
    Age 24 AWMM
    Sheep farmer/Civilian AWMM
    England, United Kingdom AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

Contribute ›
  • Embarkation details

Prisoner of war

Contribute ›
  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

Contribute ›
  • Medical notes
    Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM

Biographical information

Biographical information

Contribute ›
    • Educated at Kilbirnie and Kelburn Primary Schools, and Wellington Technical College.

      In 1937 joined the Auckland Aero Club where he obtained his 'A' License in February 1938, left for England at his own expense where was accepted for a short-term commission in the RAF.

      Acting Pilot Officer 29 October 1938

      Pilot Officer 28 October 1939

      Portrait in Wynn, K. (1981). The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940

      Attended Wellington Technica College (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845612)) AWMM
    • Rudal Kidson was born in Wellington, New Zealand on 7th May 1914. In 1931 he was a sapper in the 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Engineers, a territorial unit. He spent three years sheep-farming in the Marlborough district.

      In 1937 Kidson joined the Auckland Aero Club and obtained his 'A' Licence in February 1938. He sailed to the UK at his own expense and applied for a short service commission. He was provisionally accepted and began his elementary flying training at No.1 E&RFTS, Hatfield on 29th August 1938. Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 17 November 2020 - Reference : The Battle of Britain London Monument.
    • Kidson was posted to 3 FTS, Shellingford on 12th November and with his training completed he went to 3 Air Observers School, Aldergrove on 10th June 1939 as a staff pilot. On 4th October he joined 141 Squadron, then reforming at Turnhouse. In April 1940 the squadron began to be equipped with Defiants and became operational on 3rd June. With no operational experience, it flew south to West Malling on 12th July.

      Shortly after 09.00 hrs on the 19th twelve Defiants moved to the forward airfield at Hawkinge. At 12.23.hrs they were ordered off to carry out an offensive patrol twenty miles south of Folkestone. Three were left behind with engine trouble.

      During the patrol the nine Defiants were surprised by Me109's of III/JG51 and in less than a minute four were shot down, three in flames. One of them was Kidson's, L7015. He and his gunner, Sgt. FPJ Atkins, were never seen again.

      Their names appear on the reredos in St George's Chapel of Remembrance at Biggin Hill. Kidson is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 9 Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 17 November 2020 - Reference : The Battle of Britain London Monument.
Read more

Death

About death

Contribute ›
  • Death
    19 July 1940 AWMM
    Age 26 AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Killed in Action AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

Contribute ›
  • Memorial name
    • Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom AWMM
    • St George's Royal Air Force Chapel of Remembrance, Biggin Hill, Bromley, England AWMM
    • Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM

Roll of Honour

Remember Rudal Kidson by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Rudal Kidson

Leave a note

Contribute ›
  • On Sunday 27th August 2023 I will run the Spitfire 10k race at RAF Cosford in England in memory of Pilot Officer Rudal Kidson, wearing his name on my race shirt in grateful remembrance.

    Every runner will carry with them the name of a serviceman who died during the Battle of Britain.

    Their names liveth forever. Take a moment on that day to give thanks and remember.



    Public - David - 20 August 2023
    Report 

Sources

Sources

Contribute ›
  • External links
  • References
    • Wynn, K. (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norwich, England: Gliddon Books. AWMM
    • Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press. AWMM
    • Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author. AWMM
      Wynn, K. (1981). p. 240-241 AWMM
    • Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn]. AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - Battle of Britain Roll of Honour, July - October 1940. Archives New Zealand, Wellington, ADQA 17263 AIR118/109/77e (R17845784) AWMM
    • RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ib - Ly. Archives New Zealand (R17845612) - Former archives reference: AIR118 AWMM
    • Please note that the 12 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions. AWMM
    • List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Deceased New Zealanders (Formerly) serving with RAF [Royal Air Force]. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845760). AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
20 August 2023DavidBirmingham, UKOther
17 November 2020JeniferWairarapaResearcher
23 June 2020Ian BanksTaumarunui New ZealandResearcher

The development of the Online Cenotaph is an ongoing process; updates, new images and records are added weekly. In some cases, records have yet to be confirmed by Museum staff, and there could be mistakes or omissions in the information provided.

Creative Commons LicenseOnline Cenotaph Data by Auckland War Memorial Museum is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.