Military History

Embarked Fremantle per ‘Medic’ A7 for Egypt 15.2 1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 32nd Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements.
Liddington disembarked at Alexandria 16.2.1916. He was taken on strength with the 32nd Battalion at Duntroon Plateau 6.4.1916. After a period of intensive training, Liddington joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) at Alexandria and embarked per HT ‘Transylvania’ for France 17.6 19 6. He proceeded overseas as Acting Corporal, however, reverted to Sergeant on disembarkation at Marseilles, France 10.9.1917. He was appointed L/Corporal then Corporal 28.8.1916. Liddington endured the harsh winter of 1916-17 in the trenches on the Somme. He was admitted to a Field Ambulance Station with Trench Feet 2.12.1916 and re-joined his unit 13.2.1917. Liddington was detached from his Battalion and marched into Musketry School at Tidworth 12.2.1917. He became ill and was diagnosed with Mumps and Tonsillitis at Hurdcott 1.3.1917 and was admitted to the Fovant Hospital. On discharge, he reverted to Corporal and proceeded overseas to France 10.9.1917. Liddington marched in to re-join the 32nd Battalion in the field 20.9.1917. Liddington was KIA in the Field at Polygon Wood, Belgium 28.9.1917. The Red Cross Files detail that he was killed whilst going into line at Clapham Junction and Blackwatch Corner, East of Ypres. He was hit by shell in head and died instantly. There is no record of a place of burial, however, the Red Cross Files note a site, near where he was killed at Polygon Wood. Liddington is commemorated at Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, West Vlaanderen, Flanders, Belgium.
Final Rank Cpl. 32nd Infantry Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Liddington was born in Guildford, WA. His father, Arthur Ernest Liddington was Head Master at Guildford State School in 1921 and played an active role in establishing an Honour Board at Guildford State School. His father,  A.E. Liddington was involved in many civic activities including committees with the Wesley Church and the Bowling Club in Guildford. His Mother, Clara nee Holmes was married in Guildford in 1893. On their return to Guildford, post WW1, they built a home at 84 Helena Street, Guildford, and called it 'Holmesville'. This  home still stands today.
Photos Cpl. Herbert George Liddington 32nd Bn. Photo source AWM P09291.187  
             HMAT 'Medic' 1914. Photographer Hood, Samuel J. Photograph source AWM H19319
             Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00783
             German prisoners carrying in the wounded to Regimental First Aid Post near Clapham Junstion. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00974
             Menin Gate War Memorial 1938. Secured by Captain James Murphy of the British War Graves Commission. Photograph source AWM H16916
            
             

Information Source
AWM P09291.187. Cpl. Herbert George Liddington 32nd Bn. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H19319. HMAT 'Medic' 1914. Photographer Hood, Samuel J. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00783. Polygon Wood, Australian soldiers on shell holes. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E00974. German prisoners carrying in the wounded to Regimental First Aid Post near Clapham Junstion. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H16916. Menin Gate War Memorial 1938. Secured by Captain James Murphy of the British War Graves Commission. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation File Herbert George Liddington
AWM Roll of Honour- Herbert George Liddington
AWM Red Cross Files Herbert George Liddington
Guildford War Memorial
NAA: B2455, Liddington H.G
Wesley Chapel Fallen
West Australian Newspaper
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

Claremont Teachers’ College, Claremont.
Father at 84 Helena St. Guildford. WA. from 1919

Associated Images