Tag Archives: Libya

Percy Biddulph

11 Friday Jul 2025

Posted by in Front Line, Men who served

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The son of Alfred and Elizabeth Biddulph, Percy was born in Wolverhampton in 1915. In 1921, the family were living at 41 Arthur Street, together with Percy’s brother, David Leslie, and sister Dora.

Percy served with the Royal Navy as a Petty Officer Telegraphist (service number D/JX 135822). He was serving on the HM Submarine Orpheus. The Orpheus went missing on the night of 19 June 1940 when on route to Benghazi in Libya. She never made her destination and was declared overdue on 27 June 1940, and it was presumed that she had been mined, killing all on board. Percy is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial as well as on the Roll of Honour of St Luke’s Church in Blakenhall.

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The research for this blog post was completed by remote virtual volunteer Doug Lewis.

John Colin Barker

10 Monday Jan 2022

Posted by in Front Line, Men who served

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The son of Francis John and Lily Charlotte, John was born on 27 April 1927 in Wolverhampton. In 1939, they were living at 106 Cannock Road, along with John’s sisters, Marjory M.

John became an Ordinary Seaman with the Royal Navy (service number P/JX 515434) and served on the HMS Birmingham. At the age of just 16, he was killed in action on 28 November 1943, when the HMS Birmingham was torpedoed by German submarine U-407 off the coast of Libya. Seriously damaged, the ship succeeded in returning to Alexandria, but about 70 men in the compartment under the seaman boys’ mess deck, including John, were killed, as that was where the torpedo hit. John is remembered at the Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt.

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The research for this blog post was carried out by remote digital volunteer, Doug Lewis.

Harry Badger

18 Monday Jan 2021

Posted by in Front Line, Men who served

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Harry was born in Wolverhampton in 1920, the son of Robert and Jane Badger. He became a professional soldier, joining the Army as a regular soldier in 1938. His parents, along with his siblings Ada, Margaret, Dennis, Sidney and Jean, were living at 6 Pond Crescent, Wolverhamptpn.

Harry was a Gunner in the 7 Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery (service number 886758). Harry’s Regiment was involved in the Battle of Bardia in Libya, which was fought between 3 and 5 January 1941, as part of Operation Compass, the first British military operation of the Western Desert Campaign. Allied forces attacked Italian forces of the 10th Army. On 4 January 1941, a large force of enemy aircraft bombed the lines, killing four men (including Harry), and wounding seven. Harry is remembered at the Alamein Memorial in Egypt.

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