BIDDLE Percy Thomas

Percy Biddle was baptised on 19th July 1896 in Ombersley Church (Father Henry a Coachman, Mother Ann Elizabeth, living Woodfield Ombersley). His parents, Henry, born in Whitbourne in 1860 and Ann Elizabeth Webb, born in Linton near Bromyard in 1869, married on 9th August 1887 in St. Martin’s Church in Worcester. Percy’s father was a Groom when he married; he had progressed to a Coachman by the time of the 1901 census when the family, including Percy, aged 5, were living at 20 High Street, Camberley near Frimley, Surrey.

By the time of the 1911 Census Henry wass still a coachman and the family were back living in Ombersley at Ombersley Court in the Court stables, Percy, aged 15 is a labourer in the Court gardens.

Percy’s Siblings:
George Henry Biddle, born October 1887 in Ombersley, enlisted and served in WW1, became an acting Corporal on 1st August 1916 but was reverted back to the ranks on 27th July 1917 for improper conduct, married Martha Louisa Boulton on 11th August 1917 in Holy Trinity Church Great Malvern.  It is likely that he died in 1944 in the Bristol area Sodbury, Gloucestershire (unable to be sure of his year of death, he was still alive in 1922 according to WW1 records).  His wife remarried in 1944 in Bristol to Thomas Probert in same quarter as George’s probable death.

Gladys May Biddle, born 9th April 1891 in Ombersley, married Frederick Thomas H. Baker during the March Quarter 1918 in the Droitwich District (likely Ombersley), died March 1975 in Tenbury Wells.

Charles William Biddle, born April 1893 in Ombersley, died January 1917, Upton Upon Severn District.

Leslie David Biddle, born April 1902 in Camberley, Surrey, married Lavinia Brant in Worcester on 28th May 1927, died 10th July 1945 in Claines, Worcester (Probate).

Jack Bernard Biddle, born April 1908 in Ombersley, married Fanny Elizabeth Lawrence in January 1938 in the Droitwich District, died December 1967 in Worcester.  Fanny was born on 18th May 1906 in Fernhill Heath, Worcestershire, she died in Worcester in 1975.

A photograph of Private P. Biddle of Ombersley can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 4th November 1916, available at Worcestershire Archives.