Bidmead, Stanley Mollett

No.15106 – Sapper Stanley Bidmead

4^th Division Signal Company

Stanley Mollett Bidmead was born at St. Peters South Australia on the 27^th March 1897 to Joseph & Adelaide Bidmead. The Bidmead family moved across to Western Australia and took up residence in Watkins Street South Fremantle. Stan subsequently attended White Gum Valley Primary School and Fremantle Boys School. Stan became a Naval Cadet and also later became a member of the 86^th Militia Regiment. When he left school he went to work for the Post Office as a Telegraphist & Telephonist.

In February 1916 aged just 18, Stan presented himself at the recruiting office, and as he was under 18 years old, he needed the consent of his parents to enlist. Perhaps with some misgivings, Joseph & Adelaide signed the necessary forms for Stan’s enrolment.

Before his enlistment could be completed Stan had to be given a medical examination. The Doctor found Stan to be 5 feet 6 inches in height; weight of 112 lbs; chest measurement of 30-33 inches; fresh complexion; brown eyes and brown hair. His religious denomination was Wesleyan.

After being passed as fit, Stan was initially sent to No.56 depot but due to his experience in telephone work he was sent to the Signal School. After successfully passing the school, Stan was assigned to the 5^th Reinforcements to the 4^th Division Signal Company. This group embarked from Fremantle on the A52 “Surada” on the 26^th September 1916, arriving in Plymouth England on the 20^th November 1916. After arriving in Egland Stan was sent to the Engineer training depot, then the Signal Depot at Mitcham in England. On the 2^nd April 1917 Stan arrived in France and marched into the RE Depot at Abbeville.

On the 7^th April 1917 Stan was formally attached to the 4^th Division Signal Company. He arrived just in time for the 4^th Division’s action at Bullecourt on the 11^th April 1917. He survived this and the subsequent fighting in June around Messines. The 4^th Division continued to be stationed around Messines in July & August.

In September they were preparing for their role in the upcoming assaults in the Third Battle of Ypres. Stan survived the initial assaults that the 4^th Division made in late September and early October. However, on the 17^th October Stan was evacuated with a bad dose of gas poisoning. Stan fought for life through November and into December but the poisoning proved too severe and Stan’s young life ended on the 8^th December 1917. The Commanding Officer of the 3^rd Canadian General Hospital wrote the following

“Bidmead was admitted to this hospital 19.10.17, with considerable inflammation of the eyes, and some cough, caused by being gassed on the 16^th, having been first admitted to No.3 Aust: Field Ambulance. Examination showed an infection of the right lung, a broncho/pneumonia, due immediately to gas poisoning. This condition did not materially improve to any extent…a tuberculosis infection which had probably been latent became active much more readily and sooner than would otherwise have been the case. It was thus impossible for him to overcome the effects of the poison generally"

Joseph & Adelaide Bidmead were absolutely distraught when news came through of Stan’s death. The officer of Stan’s section, a Lieutenant Allan Burns wrote to Mr. and Mrs. Bidmead.

“My Dear Mr. Bidmead

You will probably be surprised to get a letter from me, a perfect stranger, but I feel that if I did not write to you I would be failing in a moral duty.

To explain – Your son Stan, served in my section and I have recently been informed of the sad fact that he died in Hospital, after being severely gassed. It is far from any wish of mine that I should be the means of refreshing your sorrow but I cannot let the matter pass without writing to tell you of your son’s gallant behaviour in action, both before and after he was gassed. It will probably be some consolation to both you and Mrs Bidmead, to know the circumstances.

Your son was one of three men on an important signal station, during the recent battles around the vicinity of Lounebeke. All three men were gassed, and your son’s two companions were evacuated to a dressing station. He, however, volunteered to remain at his post until relief arrived. He well knew the importance of his post being manned, and refused to leave it until he could hand his instruments over to a relief party. On the arrival of the party, he was at once sent away to Hospital, but his steadfastness and gallant devotion to duty cost him his life.

I am pleased to be able to say that I immediately recommended him for a decoration, but unfortunately it was not awarded by the Army authorities. In such large operations there are so many gallant acts that it is difficult to choose between them. In conclusion I would like to say that I am proud of having such a splendid man as your son under my command, and I beg of you and Mrs Bidmead to accept my most heartfelt sympathy in your great loss. I am sure it must be a great consolation to know that your son, though, dead, died doing his duty most nobly and well.”

Stan Bidemad was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery France Plot VIII.I.129.

Stan’s mother was granted a fortnightly pension of 14/- per fortnight. Adelaide Mary Bidmead died on the 11^th December 1928 and is buried in Fremantle Cemetery. Her husband, Joseph Thomas Bidmead died in May 1941 aged 77. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.