John George Kydd MM (SN 7041) born in Melbourne, was a 28 year old bricklayer when he enlisted in Melbourne on January 27th 1916. On April 1st he embarked from Sydney aboard the Makarini and served on the Western Front with the 12th Field Company Engineers. In March 1917 he was disciplined for drunkenness but a couple of months later he earned a Military Medal. ‘This N.C.O. has on numerous occasions shown great courage, coolness and powers of leadership under most trying conditions. During operations at MESSINES, 8th/9th June 1917, he laid out tracks and placed guideposts, continuing his work under heavy artillery fire until it was completed. He set a fine example of devotion to duty.' In April 1918 he suffered a chest wound that saw him evacuated to hospital in England. He was then returned to Australia aboard the Medic, disembarked on October 11th 1918 and was discharged on November 13th, two days after the Armistice was signed, ‘medically unfit, chronic rheumatism’.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as George Kydd.