The Airmen's Stories - P/O A R Tidman

Alfred Roberts Tidman of Grimsby, Lincolnshire was born in 1918, the son of Arthur Roberts Tidman and Christian Laing Tidman.

He attended Wintringham Secondary School then worked at Grimsby Fish Docks.

He joined the RAFVR about March 1939 as an Airman u/t Pilot. Called up on 1st September 1939, he completed his training at RAF College FTS, Cranwell on 20th September 1940.

He was commissioned next day and arrived at 7 OTU Hawarden. After converting to Spitfires he joined 64 Squadron at Leconfield on 6th October. Tidman flew his first sortie on the 11th.

Tidman was posted away to 123 Squadron at its reformation at Turnhouse on 10th May 1941. Later Tidman was posted to 602 Squadron at Kenley to gain operational experience.

He was shot down and killed aged 23 on 17th September 1941 on his fourth flight with the squadron. During Circus 95 to Mazingarbe power station his Spitfire V W3642 was shot down into the sea.

Tidman's body was washed ashore on 21st October 1941 in Holland and lies in Bergen-op-Zoom War Cemetery.