Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Arthur James Biddle a shoe trade finisher, born in the January quarter of 1862 in Leicester (son of James Biddle, 1839-1918 and Lucilla Wilday, 1840-1911) and his wife Jane (Mary Jane) Biddle (nee Wigglesworth, married on the 2nd February 1882 in the Church of St. Philip & St. James, Ratby, Leicestershire), born in the April quarter of 1858 in Ratby (daughter of Joseph Wigglesworth, 1825 and Catherine Moore, 1824). William Orton, was born on the 26th November 1891 in Ratby and was baptised on the 21st February 1892 in the Church of St. Philip & St. James, Ratby, his siblings were Beatrice Annie, born on the 1st November 1883 and baptised on the 20th January 1884 in the Church of St. Philip & St. James, Ratby, Frank, born on the 28th January 1889 and baptised on the 14th April 1889 in the Church of St. Philip & St. James, Ratby, Arthur, born on the 29th August 1895 and baptised on the 20th October 1895 in the Church of St. Philip & St. James, Ratby and Bertie, born on the 11th July 1900 and baptised on the 16th December 1900 in the Church of St. Philip & St. James, Ratby, all his siblings were born in Ratby, in March 1901 the family home was at Main Street, Ratby.
In April 1911 William was employed as a shoe trade finisher and was residing in the family home at Stamford Street, Ratby, together with his father, a shoe trade finisher, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a shoe trade finisher and Bert, a schoolboy.
William also had an older sibling, Lucilla, who died, aged 15 years in October 1900 and was interred on the 20th October in Ratby Cemetery.
William’s mother died aged 52 on the 9th August 1911 and his father died aged 51 in February 1912 and was interred 14th February 1912 in Ratby Cemetery.
His elder brother Frank died on the 25th December 1917 from the effects of gas.
FAMILY NOTE: William was officially recorded at birth with the surname spelling of Biddles, however all the family were recorded at birth with the surname of Biddle.
William’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Leicester into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 25186.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Reported missing in action. In the Field. 15/9/16.
Accepted for official purposes to have died on or since. In the Field. 15/9/16.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, William nominated Miss Annie Dowell as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 15 Sep-16 - Battalion moved into its attack position during the night and were finally settled down and ready to attack by 4.30am. 2nd Lieutenant DAVIES attached Q 6th Division. The Commanding Officer decided to attack with “D” and “B” Companies in the front line, with “D” on the left and “B” on the right. “A” and “C” Companies formed the second line, with “A” on the left and “C” on the right. Two Lewis Guns accompanied each Company, and two were left in reserve with Battalion Headquarters. Two Bombing Squads of ten each were also formed in each Company. These squads carried the full amount of bombs, while every man also carried two Mills No.5 bombs (one in each pocket). The fighting strength of the Battalion going into action was 23 officers including (the Medical Officer and Chaplain) and 643 other ranks. About 5.50am two enemy aeroplanes appeared above us, but did not stay long. About this time also, a Tank was noticed on our right moving quietly up to the enemy’s front line. On arriving there he immediately opened fire with his machine guns, enfilading the German trench on either side. He was very heavily fired on by the enemy’s machine guns which apparently had no effect as he still continued his movements and firing. Nothing further happened till ZERO (6.20am) when the attack commenced. The leading Company’s at once advanced at the walk in from lines 30X entrance between lines. A heavy machine gun fire was immediately opened by the enemy from about T.15 b 0.4. The Support Companies followed on in the same formation 300X in the rear of the last wave of the leading Company. Battalion Headquarters moved immediately in the rear of the last wave of Support Companies. The mist and smoke was terribly thick, and allowed no observation by the Support Company’s and Battalion Headquarters as to what was exactly happening to the leading Companies. Owing to this (mist and smoke) a slight error occurred in direction. The right and left under orders to keep in touch with units attacking on our right and left, moved with these units thereby causing a small gap near our centre. This was immediately filled up by Support Companies. The Artillery barrage opened too late to do any harm as the whole of the Supports had crossed the road moving due south from GINCHY (the place where the barrage was directed) before the barrage commenced. Battalion Headquarters had by this time moved into a shell hole about T.14 b 7.4. Throughout the advance the Battalion suffered very heavily from Machine Gun fire. The Battalion had not gained its objective line held up by very heavy fire, and the very strong and undamaged wire of the trench leading from the North West corner of the Left Quadrilateral (a strong point hitherto unknown). “A” Company immediately entrenched itself on a small ridge about T.14 b 9.6 to T.14 b 8.2. Efforts were made to locate the exact positions of “B,” “C” and “D” Companies. It was found that “B” and “C” were entrenched about T.14 b 7.7 had lost very heavily while unsupported. “D” Company had lost very heavily also and the remainder (“D” Company) were still advancing with the GUARDS and occupying shell holes between our new position and the German wire (a few of the latter came in under the cover of darkness). Good communication was kept with the contact aeroplane by means of flares and groundsheets throughout the day. Great difficulties were experienced in keeping track with Brigade Headquarters owing to the impossibility of using means of wired signalling, and the heavy barrage kept up throughout the day making it impossible for a runner to succeed in getting through. And then later Private PARRY (“A” Company) did excellent work in getting through and returning safely to us, thus three times saving the day, he was finally detained by Brigade Headquarters after a fourth journey. Throughout the day the trenches were improved, and by night everyone had more or less good cover. “A” Company, “B” Company and Headquarters were subjected to heavy shell fire throughout the day. “B” and “C” Company were moved up to where our new line was continued to the right and left. The night was quiet except for heavy sniping in front of “C” Company and its attack on one line of trenches and a communication trench (in course of construction) line carried without any serious opposition. These were occupied by the 9th Bavarian Regiment. No prisoners were taken. Casualties, 2nd Lieutenant J. C. WEBB, 2nd Lieutenant J. G. KENNEDY and Lieutenant A. H. PINDER were all killed. 2nd Lieutenant F. B. STEVENSON, Captain H. PICKBOURNE, 2nd Lieutenant H. A. GRAVES, 2nd Lieutenant W. BLACKLOCK, Captain G. H. SALMON, Lieutenant J. H. JOHN and 2nd Lieutenant R. PICKERSGILL were all wounded. Captain C. W. HERBISON, 2nd Lieutenant G. H. GRISTWOOD, 2nd Lieutenant J. BURNETT and 2nd Lieutenant J. G. GARDNER were all wounded and subsequently died. Other Ranks, “A” Company 23, “B” Company 35, “C” Company 23 and “D” Company 27 were killed. “A” Company 36, “B” Company 69, “C”. Company 56 and “D” Company 60 were wounded. “A” Company 5, “B” Company 11, “C” Company nil and “D” Company 16 missing in action.
On Monday October 9th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 4, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Pte. W. Biddles, Leicestershire Regt., was killed in action on September 15th. He lived at Berrys-lane, Ratby. He enlisted under the Derby scheme, and had been at the front since February. Previous to joining he worked at Messrs. Barratt’s, Aylestone.
On Saturday October 14th, 1916, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page 5, under the heading. – ROLL OF HONOUR. – (A photograph accompanied the article). – Private W. Biddles, Leicester’s, killed Sept. 15. His mother lives at Berry’s-lane, Ratby.
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