Army
Vidler, Frank Albert
Frank Albert Vidler
Rank: Private
Regiment: Royal Sussex Regiment
Parents: Mr & Mrs F Vidler
Cousins: Edward Francis Smith, A Smith, Alfred Smith & Ernest Sellens
Address: 12 Old Church Road, Hollington
Published: February 1915, May 1916 & January 1918
Please use the comments box below if you can provide more information about this person.
5 COMMENTS
My grandmothers sister Ada Smith married Frank Vidler b. 1877 in Hollington in 1900. Ada and Frank had a son also called Frank b. 1897 who is the Frank shown above. The caption on the mass photo with the Smiths is incorrect as this Frank was not killed in WW1 but his father was.
Frank senior was killed in 1917
Name: Frank Vidler
Age: 41
Birth Date: abt 1876
Death Date: 10 Feb 1917
Cemetery: Ancre British Cemetery Beaumont-Hamel
Burial Country: France
Regiment: Bedfordshire Regiment
Regimental Number: 33706
Region or Memorial: France
There was another Frank Vidler who died in July 1918 whilst serving with the Royal Sussex Regt.
I am happy to pass on any information that I have.
Hi Trevor, thank you for shedding some light on this. I’ve corrected the page. Do you have an photo of Frank Snr? I’m happy to add him to the site if so. I wonder if this Frank was the one KIA in 1918? There is no additional information about him on CWGC that can identify him, and there are several F Vidler’s that served in the Royal Sussex Regiment. Kind Regards, Kieron
Hello Kieron,
Sadly I do not have a photo of Frank snr. who died in 1917.
I am aware of 2 other Frank Vidlers from Hollington, the first is the son of the above and was born in 1897 and he survived the war.
The other Frank Vidler who was born in 1895 and was the son of George and Fanny Vidler who lived in Hollington and this Frank was KIA in July 1918 and his death was reported in the Hastings Observer on 31st Aug 1918. He was married to Amy Banister.
Incidentally the Smiths in the Family Roll of Honour the sons of Walter Smith (my great grandfather) were 1st cousins of the sons of James Smith that also had a Family Roll of Honour in the Hastings Pictorial Advertiser.
Percival Valentine Hobday was my grandfather.
Cheer
Trevor
Thanks Trevor, that has helped me identify the correct Frank Vidler who was KIA in July 1918 (http://www.ww1rollofhonour.co.uk/index.php/2015/12/vidler-frank-e/). Kind Regards, Kieron
Hello Kieron,
Just a little more background on the Frank Vidler that died on the 10/02/1917.
He was the son of William and Sarah Vidler who both died in 1896.
For the last 20-30 years of his life William, Sarah and their children lived under the name of Pilbeam. William was born before his mother married Edmund Pilbeam and was officially William Vidler but lived and worked in Hollington as a Blacksmith under the name of Pilbeam. In 1884 he bought a house and blacksmiths forge in Old Lane, Hollington for £340.
Cheers
Trevor