Between the years 1911 and 1913, eight members of the Idiens family (John and Alice and seven of their eight children) emigrated to Canada; Albert William Idiens, known as Bert, was the second to go.
Bert was born at Evesham on 24th December 1883, the second of seven children of John Idiens and his wife, Alice (née South). Bert grew up at their home in High Street, Evesham. Around 1899, his parents took on the tenancy of Wickhamford Manor, where they were living at the time of the 1901 census. They quickly became involved with the local community. A war report of 1915 reveals that Albert William Idiens was once an organist at the church. They were also very friendly with the Sladden family of Badsey and Bert is mentioned in several of the Sladden letters.
At the time of the 1901 census, Bert was living at Wickhamford; his occupation was as an articled clerk to a solicitor. By 1911, the Idiens family had left Wickhamford and moved to Poole; 27-year-old Bert had gone with them and was now, together with his younger brother, Walter Cyril, working as a market gardener.
On 13th March 1912, Bert sailed from Bristol with Canadian Northern Steamships Ltd on “Royal Edward”, bound for Halifax, New Brunswick; he gave his occupation as estate agent. His eldest sister, Daisy, had emigrated the year before; brothers Cyril and Stanley were to emigrate later in 1912; and his parents and other two sisters, Edith and Doris, followed in 1913.
Bert joined the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force (No 77362) on 10th November 1914 in Victoria, British Columbia. On his Attestation Paper he stated that he had already served in the Yeomanry for 2 years and was a solicitor.
Bert married Margaret Elsie Jean Reid at Royal Oak, Canada, on 14th August 1924; they had two daughters. He died at Sidney, Canada, on 3rd July 1953, aged 69.
See also John Idiens and family of Bowers Hill and Wickhamford Manor.