John Biddulph
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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John Biddulph was born on 2nd February 1883 at Nottingham, He was the husband of Ann Biddulph née Radford whom he married in 1905 at Radford, they went on to have the following children, Alfred b1907, John b1908 ,George, b1910 Harold, Ann, Leslie b1909 and Samuel born 1911 (died 1912) Biddulph. They lived at 22 Auckland Street Radford Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at 14 Brassey Street, Radford and are shown as John 28 yrs a miner/contractor he is living wit his wife Ann 27 yrs and their children, Alfred 4yrs, John 3 yrs, George 2 yrs and Samuel 2 weeks of age.
Private John Biddulph, Royal Marine Light Infantry Portsmouth Battalion, Royal Naval Division, died of wounds, a gunshot wound to his head, at Cape Helles on 29th June 1915. The former miner enlisted on 1st September 1914, was posted to the Sherwood Foresters, he was transferred to the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 16th September 1914. Buried in Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Cape Helles, Gallipoli Biddulph became one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).'
Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged) 14 September 1915: Lance Corporal J BIDDULPH, Royal Marines, 22 Auckland Street, Radford, killed in action aged 32. Leaves widow and six children. Research Rachel Farrand
