Cyril Biddulph
Encyclopedia
Cyril Biddulph was a Canadian stage actor
who frequently performed in the United States
.
military base Curragh Camp
in County Kildare
, Ireland
. 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. 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
; 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
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
. The next day Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt were taken by the Canadians. Biddulph was buried in the Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt
in plot VI. A. 12.
Biddulph was married to Broadway actress Cissie Sewell. Ellis Island
immigration records state that Sewell remained an unmarried widow through at least 1923.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who frequently performed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Life
Cyril Biddulph was born 28 January 1887 on the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military base Curragh Camp
Curragh Camp
The Curragh Camp is an army base and military college located in The Curragh, County Kildare, Ireland. It is the main training centre for the Irish Army.- Brief history of the Curragh's military heritage :...
in County Kildare
County Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. In the 1901 United Kingdom Census
United Kingdom Census 1901
A nationwide census was conducted in England and Wales on 31 March 1901. It contains records for 32 million people and 6 million houses, It covers the whole of England and Wales, with the exception of parts of Deal in Kent. Separate censuses were held in Scotland and Ireland...
Biddulph is listed as a steward
Stewardship
Stewardship is an ethic that embodies responsible planning and management of resources. The concept of stewardship has been applied in diverse realms, including with respect to environment, economics, health, property, information, and religion, and is linked to the concept of sustainability...
on the British vessel Langton Grange, which was at port at the West India Docks
West India Docks
The West India Docks are a series of three docks on the Isle of Dogs in London, the first of which opened in 1802. The docks closed to commercial traffic in 1980 and the Canary Wharf development was built on the site.-History:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the time of the census. Later Biddulph moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he found employment as an actor. He appeared in numerous productions across the United States in the early 1910s, including performances on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
and at the National Theatre
National Theatre (Washington, D.C.)
The National Theatre is located in Washington, D.C., and is a venue for a variety of live stage productions with seating for 1,676.Despite its name, it is not a governmentally funded national theatre, but operated by a private, non-profit organization....
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
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
; His original unit was the 5th University Company, but on September 16, 1916 he joined the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers...
regiment based out of eastern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
as a private. On December 29, 1916 he was commissioned as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
On 26 August 1918 Biddulph was killed leading his battalion into action in Pas de Calais near the communes
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
of Vis-en-Artois
Vis-en-Artois
Vis-en-Artois is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Vis-en-Artois is situated southeast of Arras, at the junction of the D939 and the D9 roads.-History:...
and Haucourt
Haucourt, Pas-de-Calais
Haucourt is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:A small farming village situated southeast of Arras, at the junction of the D939 and the D9 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:...
. The next day Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt were taken by the Canadians. Biddulph was buried in the Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt
Vis-En-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt
The Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial ground for the dead of World War I located between the communes of Vis-en-Artois and Haucourt in the département of Pas-de-Calais, France.-History:...
in plot VI. A. 12.
Biddulph was married to Broadway actress Cissie Sewell. Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
immigration records state that Sewell remained an unmarried widow through at least 1923.
Partial list of stage performances
- October 1914 - Evidence at Lyric TheatreLyric Theatre (New York)The Lyric Theatre was a prominent Broadway theatre built in 1903 in Manhattan, New York City in the 42nd Street Theatre District. It had two entrances, one at 213 West 42nd Street and another at 214-26 West 43rd Street and was one of the few New York houses that had two formal entrances. In 1934,...
in New YorkNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. - October-November 1913 - The Great Adventure at Booth TheatreBooth TheatreThe Booth Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 222 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan, New York City.Architect Henry B. Herts designed the Booth and its companion Shubert Theatre as a back-to-back pair sharing a Venetian Renaissance-style façade...
in New York. - March 1912 – The SirenThe Siren (Musical)The Siren is a Broadway musical production adapted from the operetta Die Sirene by Leo Fall, based on a text by Leo Stein and A. M. Willner. This was first performed in Vienna on 5 January 1911....
at the Colonial TheatreColonial TheatreThe Colonial Theatre is the oldest continually-operating theatre in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Designed by the architectural firm of Clarence Blackall and paid for by Frederick Lothrop Ames the theatre first opened its doors for a performance of Ben-Hur on December 20, 1900...
in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
.
- October-December 1911 - Uncle Sam at Liberty TheatreLiberty TheatreThe Liberty Theatre was a Broadway theater from 1904 to 1933, located at 236 West 42nd Street in New York City.In 1996 it was used for a staged reading of T. S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land, with actress Fiona Shaw, directed by Deborah Warner. The New York Times review described the theater as...
and Gaiety Theatre in New York. - March 1911 – The Dollar PrincessThe Dollar PrincessThe Dollar Princess is a musical in three acts by A.M. Willner and Fritz Grünbaum , adapted into English by Basil Hood , with music by Leo Fall and lyrics by Adrian Ross. It opened in London at Daly's Theatre on 25 September 1909, running for 428 performances...
at the National TheatreNational Theatre (Washington, D.C.)The National Theatre is located in Washington, D.C., and is a venue for a variety of live stage productions with seating for 1,676.Despite its name, it is not a governmentally funded national theatre, but operated by a private, non-profit organization....
in Washington D.C.