South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 85656 Albert Edmund BIDDLE MM - 148th Company, Machine Gun Corps


Killed in Action on Tuesday 9th October 1917 aged 23


Military History

     
Theatre of War Bravery Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders Military Medal - Gazetted 17 Sep 1917 Tyne Cot Memorial
     
Arrived in Theatre Campaign Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
26 Mar 1917 in Boulogne, France British War & Victory Medals Balsall Common
    Temple Balsall
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed Date and Place Enlisted  
Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) 9 Nov 1915 in Warwick  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units  
Potijze Pte 8324 Royal Warwickshire Regt Transferred to the M G Corps on 13 Apr 1917
     
  • 148th Machine Gun Company, Machine Gun Corps was formed on 6 Feb 1916 and was part of 148th Infantry Brigade.
  • The company became part of the 49th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps on 1 Mar 1918

Circumstances of Death

Albert is listed as being killed in action on 9th October 1917. The brief 148th Company war diary entries for the 8th to 10th October are transcribed below and show that Albert was killed during an attack on Passchendaele Ridge.

Potijze - 8 Oct 1917: Proceeded to first assembly position at Potijze

Potijze - 9 Oct 1917: Attacked the Passchendaele Ridge, the Brigade with a two Battalion frontage. The 2nd & 3rd objectives on left Bn frontage being allotted to 1/5th K.O.Y.L.I [King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry].

Potijze - 10 Oct 1917: Relieved at night and bivouaced in Potijze Camp.



 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Oct Qtr 1894 in Naseby, Northants  
   
Parents Names Abode
Joseph (deceased) and Edith Biddle later Lewis          George Cottages, Kenilworth Road, Berkswell                         
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1894 - Naseby 1901 - School age
1901 - Canley, Westwood, Stoneleigh 1911 - Farm Labourer
1911 - Canley, Westwood, Stoneleigh 1915 - Labourer at Rover Works, Coventry
1915 - Kenilworth Road, Balsall  
   
  •  In some military records, including his CWGC Grave record, Albert's middle name is given as Edward not Edmund