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Siddons, Victor Donald

    Date of birth:
    May 24th, 1892 (Oundle/Northamptonshire, Great Britain)
    Date of death:
    1967
    Nationality:
    British (1801-present, Kingdom)

    Biography

    Victor Siddons started training for the ministry in the Methodist Church, but joined the Northamptonshire Yeomanry when war broke out in 1914. He was sent to Arabia to train as a pilot and joined the Arab rebellion against the Turks, under Lawrence of Arabia.
    For his work he was awarded the DFC and was Mentioned in Despatches and also awarded the Order of Al Nahda by the King of the Hejaz.
    After the war he completed his training for the Ministry and served in various Methodist circuits until the outbreak of the 2nd World War. In February 1939 he was given a commission in the Regular Army Reserve of Officers as a Chaplain and was called up in December 1939. The next month saw him in France with the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment. He was eventually evacuated from Dunkirk.
    After a year in England he went again to the Middle East and in Egypt he was posted to the 8th Army as Senior Chaplain to the 13th Corps. He later became Staff Chaplain at 8th Army headquarters. When the British troops left North Africa he went with them to Greece as Deputy- Assistant Chaplain General. He was in Athens when the Communist troubles broke out in December 1944. For his services in this area he was awarded a Mention in Despatches and was awarded an MBE (Military).
    After the war he became Superintendent of the Bath Road Circuit and President of the Swindon Council of Churches. When he died he was still an RAF chaplain.

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    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Chaplain to the forces Fourth Class (temporary Chaplain to the Forces, Third Class)
    Unit:
    Royal Army Chaplain's Department (Reserve of Officers)
    Awarded on:
    February 18th, 1943
    Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)
    Rank:
    Chaplain to the Forces 2nd Class
    Awarded on:
    May 23rd, 1946
    Citation:
    "In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Mediterranean Theatre."
    Mentioned in Dispatches
    Period:
    Second World War (1939-1945)

    with 8th Army Clasp
    Africa Star

    Sources

    • - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35908 published on the 16 February 1943
      - Third Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37575 published on the 21 May 1946
      - Roger's Study
      - BBC

    Photo