Harold John IDIENS (1880-1953)

Harold John Idiens (1880-1953) was a member of the Idiens family who lived at Wickhamford Manor for around seven years at the turn of the 20^th century and were friends of the Sladden family.

Harold was born on 4^th November 1880, the eldest of seven children of John and Alice Idiens.  Harold grew up at their home in High Street, Evesham.  Around 1899, his parents took on the tenancy of Wickhamford Manor and quickly became involved with the local community.  Harold moved with the family and took on the role of farm bailiff.

By 1911, the Idiens family had left Wickhamford and moved to Poole, but Harold did not go with them; he was working as a Corn Agent and staying with his uncle and aunt, Arthur and Eleanor South, in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton.

Just prior to the First World War, the Idiens family emigrated to Canada, with the exception of Harold who remained in England.  The first to go were his siblings, Walter, Stanley, Albert and Alice in 1912, then his parents, John and Alice, with his sisters, Edith and Doris in 1913.

During the First World War, Harold served with the 135th Battalion, Royal Garrison Artillery as a bombardier (No 9097) then a gunner (No 297354).  He had previously served a 5-year term in the Worcestershire Yeomanry.   He is mentioned in a letter of 13^th June 1915 from Kathleen Sladden to her father, who said that Harold had been up visiting his brother, Bert, who was in hospital in London.

Harold married Elizabeth Helena (Lena) Crisp in 1921.  They lived at Three Ways, Badsey, and then moved to Torvean, Greenhill. 

Sadly, Lena committed suicide on 11^th August 1952.  Harold also took his own life on 6^th January 1953, aged 72.  He left effects of £27,347 14s 1d.

With grateful thanks to Pat Goldstraw for the loan of photographs from the photo album of Lena Idiens (née Crisp).