Cyril Biddulph

Cyril Biddulph (28 January 1887-26 August 1918) was a Canadian stage actor who frequently performed in the United States.

Life

Cyril Biddulph was born 28 January 1887 on the British military base Curragh Camp in County Kildare, Ireland.^[1] In the 1901 United Kingdom Census Biddulph is listed as a steward on the British vessel Langton Grange, which was at port at the West India Docks in London at the time of the census. ^[2] Later Biddulph moved to New York City where he found employment as an actor. He appeared in numerous productions across the United States in the early 1910s, including performances on Broadway and at the National Theatre in Washington D.C. His last appearance on stage in the United States was in the fall of 1914, months after the First World War began.

Biddulph returned to Canada and on 7 December, 1915 he enlisted in the Canadian army;^[1][3] His original unit was the 5th University Company, but on September 16, 1916 he joined the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry regiment based out of eastern Ontario as a private. On December 29, 1916 he was commissioned as a lieutenant^[3][4][5] On 26 August 1918 Biddulph was killed leading his battalion into action in Pas de Calais near the communes of Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt.^{[4][5] [6]} The next day Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt were taken by the Canadians.^[7] Biddulph was buried in the Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt in plot VI. A. 12.^[5][8][3]

Photo of Cyril Biddulph's wife, Cissie Sewell, and Mercer Templeton in 1920 production of Honey Girl.

Biddulph was married to Broadway actress Cissie Sewell.^[4][5] Ellis Island immigration records state that Sewell remained an unmarried widow through at least 1923. ^[9][10]

Partial list of stage performances

• October 1914 - Evidence at Lyric Theatre in New York.^[11]
• October-November 1913 - The Great Adventure at Booth Theatre in New York.^[12]
• March 1912 – The Siren at the Colonial Theatre in Boston.^[13]

• October-December 1911 - Uncle Sam at Liberty Theatre and Gaiety Theatre in New York.^[14]
• March 1911 – The Dollar Princess at the National Theatre in Washington D.C.^[15]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Soldiers of the First World War: Biddulph, Cyril". Library and Archives Canada. http://data4.collectionscanada.ca/netacgi/nph-brs?s1=biddulph&s2=&s3=&Sect4=AND&l=20&Sect1=IMAGE&Sect2=THESOFF&Sect5=CEF6PEN&Sect6=HITOFF&d=CEF6&p=1&u=http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/cef/001042-100.01-e.html&r=1&f=G. 
2. ^ Class: RG13; Piece: 358; Folio: 254; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1901. Ancestry.com. 1901 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Lieutenant Cyril Biddulph. Died: August 26, 1918 Canadian Great War Project Retrieved 2010-08-08
4. ^ ^{a b c} “Lieut. Biddulph, Actor, Killed in War.” New York Times (1857-Current file ); 04 October 1918; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003) pg. 11. Hennepin County Public Library, Minneapolis. 16 June 2007.
5. ^ ^{a b c d} "Casualty Details: Biddulph, Cyril C.". CWGC. http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=249973. Retrieved 2007-07-01. 
6. ^ Lieutenant Cyril Biddulph, War diaries - 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, August 1918. Canadian Great War Project Retrieved 2010-08-08
7. ^ "Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt". CWGC. http://www.cwgc.org/search/cemetery_details.aspx?cemetery=2000088&mode=1. Retrieved 2007-07-01. 
8. ^ "Lieut Cyril Biddulph". Find a Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56662825. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
9. ^ Name Search. The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundations, Inc.
10. ^ Cissie S. Biddulph 1923 immigration record The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundations, Inc.
11. ^ "Evidence". IBDB. http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=8049. Retrieved 2007-06-16. 
12. ^ "The Great Adventure". IBDB. http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=7713. Retrieved 2007-06-17. 
13. ^ "Early Broadway, Theatre and Vaudeville Programs". http://www.the-forum.com/EPHEMERA/early.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-16. 
14. ^ "Uncle Sam". IBDB. http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=7374. Retrieved 2007-06-17. 
15. ^ "Past Shows on the Mainstage of the National Theatre - 1900-1924". The National Theatre. http://www.nationaltheatre.org/mainstage/mainstagepast1900-1924.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-16. 

External links

• Cyril Biddulph at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Maple Leaf Legacy Project: Cyril Biddulph

Persondata
Name	Biddulph, Cyril
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1887
Place of birth
Date of death	1918
Place of death