TIDY, FRANK OVERTON WILLS

Major Frank Overton Wills Tidy, MC was born 12 June 1886 in Kildonan, Manitoba the son of William Thomas Tidy and Adeline Estella Tidy, nee Wills. At the time of his attestation into the 3^rd (Toronto Regiment) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914 he resided with his parents at 562 Ontario Street in Toronto. He had served with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada for 11 years attaining the rank of Captain. A broker by trade he stood 5 feet 11 ½ inches tall and was an unwed member of the Church of England.

During his active service in the First World War he also served with the 9^th (Alberta Regiment) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, the 198^th (Canadian Buffs) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, he was Officer Commanding the Railway Construction & Forestry Depot, Canadian Forestry Corps, and ended the war with the 75^th (Mississauga) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Surviving the war, he became an accountant and on 26 November, 1936 he married Mildred Staples Morse. They had two sons, Wilton Morse Tidy in 1939, and Ashley Wills Tidy in 1940.

On 4 May 1959 Frank died at the age of 73 and on 23 July 1998 Mildred died. Both are interred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Plot C, Section 5, Lot 8 along with Mildred’s parents J. Wilton Morse d.1922 and Alvaetta Morse, nee Staples d.1954. Also interred in the same grave Mary Elizabeth Morse d.1893 (Memorial ID – 78771396)

Record of Service

1903 – Taken On Strength by the 2nd Regiment “Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada”
1909, 16 Feb – Date of Commission
1912, 28 May – appointed C.M. No. 3 Company, 2nd Regiment “Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada” and held the rank of Captain
1914, 14 Aug to 21 Sep – placed on Active Service and seconded to the 3rd (Toronto Regiment) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force located at Valcartier Camp, Quebec with the rank of Captain
1914, 29 Aug – Medical Examination – Valcartier Camp
1914, 22 Sep – Attested and Taken On Strength by the 3^rd (Toronto Regiment) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force with the rank of Captain – Valcartier Camp
1914, 22 Sep to 03 Oct – date of sailing from Canada to England
1915, 19 Jan to 26 Feb – admitted to No.1 General Manor House – Bulford – Tonsillitis
1915, 10 Feb – Taken On Strength by the 9th (Alberta Regiment) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force – Tidworth Camp
1915, 08 Mar – appointed Adjutant, 9th (Alberta Regiment) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force – Shorncliffe Camp
1915, 02/03 May – embarked in England for France
1915, 03 May – Taken On Strength by the 3rd (Toronto Regiment) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force with the rank of Captain
1915, 05 May – arrived unit in the field – Bailleul, France and conducted training at Aviation Field
1915, 22 May – the 3^rd (Toronto Regiment) Infantry Battalion, CEF was ordered to relieve the 1^st(Western Ontario) Infantry Battalion, CEF in the trenches designated as G.H.Q. Line X.16.D.
1915, 24/25 May – the 3rd (Toronto Regiment) Infantry Battalion, CEF was ordered to attack and seize enemy trenches and secure a farm house, a road crossing and a bridge
1915, 24 May – Instructions issued … C Company under Capt Tidy will take the trench moving out through house M 9 and with bombs and bayonet clear the trench beyond the points indicated …
- 22:30hr – Capt Tidy advised that artillery support had been delayed and his attack moved to 23:30hr
- 22:30hr – telephone lines were almost immediately cut and HQ unable to advise him that artillery had corrected its delay and to move his attack back to 23:00hr
- 23:30hr – assault begins
- 23:40hr – assault party (Capt Tidy) had entered enemy trench and were bombing the trench moving to the left
- 23:45 hr – assault party report that progress to the right impeded by enemy machine gun fire
- 23:50hr – attack postponed and the assault party ordered to return to Canadian trenches, which was completed in good order bringing in the wounded
- 02:00hr to 03:00hr – severe enemy artillery bombardment into 3rd (Toronto Regiment) Infantry Battalion, CEF trenches
1915, 24 Jun – admitted to No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station – Influenza, Trench Fever
1915, 30 Jun – admitted to No. 1 Casualty Clearing Station – General Debility, Diarrhea, Dysentery
1915, 06 Jul – Medical Boards – Not Yet Determined medical condition – Returned to Duty
1915, 27 Jul – after reports of enemy being seen in a wheat field 150yds away in an area thought to contain an enemy sniping post or an enemy advanced station Capt Tidy, No 9648 Pte J. Bruno, No 63198 Pte N.A. Candlish and No 18966 Pte M. Lubervich are ordered out to cut them off. Circling around behind the enemy post and closing within six yards the enemy were taken completely by surprise. Two of the enemy surrendered at once to Capt Tidy. A third man at first held up his hands but then fired on the patrol. Pte Bruno returned fire with two shots killing the 25^th Bavarian Regiment soldier.
1915, 31 Oct – departs for leave – Bailleul Train Station ETD 06:27hr 01 Nov 1915
1915, 01 Nov to 08 Nov – granted leave
1916, 01 Jan – London Gazette Supplement No. 29422, pg. 73 – Mentioned in Dispatches
1916, 05 Jan to 19 Jan – attached to the Canadian Divisional Training School
1916, 11 Jan – London Gazette Supplement No. 29438, pg. 591 – Awarded the Military Cross
1916, 16 Jan – awarded Military Cross on parade (Pte Bruno awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal)
1916, 08 Feb to 16 Feb – granted leave
1916, 10 Feb – Medical Boards London – unfit for General Service for 2 ½ months – General Debility and Diarrhea, Dysentery – billeted at Curzon Hotel, Mayfair, London
1916, 15 Feb to 24 Apr – Leave to Canada – sailed to Canada aboard the S.S. Scandinavian
1916, 16 Feb – Struck Off Strength by the 3rd (Toronto Regiment) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
1916, 06 Mar – promoted to Major and retained in Canada for duty with 198^th (Canadian Buffs) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force – Toronto
1916, 12 Oct – Medical Examination at Camp Borden
1917, 26 Jan – Resigned Provisional Appointment with the 198^th (Canadian Buffs) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force
1917, 29 Jan – Struck Of Strength of the 198^th (Canadian Buffs) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force being permitted to resign his Provisional Appointment – Toronto
1917, 15 May – Taken On Strength as the Officer Commanding Railway Construction & Forestry Depot, Canadian Forestry Corps with the rank of Major – Ottawa
1917, 25 Jul – Medical Examination – Rockcliffe Camp, Ottawa
1918, 25 Mar – sailed from Canada to England and Taken On Strength by the Overseas Military Forces of Canada, Canadian Forestry Corps with the rank of Major
1918, 03 Apr – arrived England
1918, 04 Apr to 12 Apr – attached Canadian Forestry Corps, Base Depot and appointed Battalion Musketry Officer – Sunningdale, Berkshire, London
1918, 12 Apr to 27 Jun – attached HQ Canadian Forestry Corps – London
1918, 28 Jun to 16 Nov – On Command Canadian Forestry Corps, Base Depot – Sunningdale, Berkshire
1918, 16 Nov – was to be transferred to 1^st Central Ontario Regiment Depot but order was amended and proceeded to 75th (Mississauga) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force on supernumerary establishment
1918, 18 Nov – London Gazette No. 31103, p.160 – To be Temporary Major with the 1^st Central Ontario Regiment
1918, 24 Nov – joined 75th (Mississauga) Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force in the field as reinforcement
1918, 03 Dec – attached to 11^th Brigade HQ, Canadian Expeditionary Force
1919, 29 Apr – proceeded to England and Taken On Strength “A” Wing, Canadian Concentration Camp, Bramshott Camp
1919, 02 May – Dental Examination for Demobilization– Bramshott Camp, Hants
1919, 31 May – Taken On Strength “S” Wing Canadian Concentration Camp for Duty
1919, 22 Jul – Medical Boards – Haemorrhoids – Fit for Garrison Duty, Unfit for General Service for six months – Witley Camp
1919, 23 Jul – Dental Examination for Demobilization – Bramshott Camp, Hants
1919, 13 Aug – Medical Examination Upon Leaving the Service of Officers … who have no Disability
1919, 16 Aug – embarked in Liverpool aboard S.S. Belgic for Canada and Taken On Strength by Military District No. 2
1919, 24 Aug – General Demobilization – Toronto