Subject

Percy Baden Powell Huxford is the 2nd from the right of the seven boys sitting in the photograph of the scout troop.

He was born on 9 May 1900, in Walworth, one of at least ten children of Henry William Huxford (1871-1937) and Isabella Huxford née Kenrick (1873-1913). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1900 in the St Saviour registration district, Southwark.

In the 1901 census he is shown as living in 3 rooms at 88 Portland Street, Newington, Walworth, with his parents and three siblings: George Edgar Huxford (b.1894), Isabella May Huxford (1896-1973) and Lilian Huxford (b.1898). His father was stated to be a "market butcher:cutter".

On 27 October 1902 he, together with his three siblings. were baptised at St Peter's Church, Walworth, where the baptismal records not only inform us of his date of birth but confirm that the family were still residing at 88 Portland Street and that his father was a "carrier".

When his father completed the 1911 census return form he was shown as living in 4 rooms at 163 Portland Street, Walworth, with his parents and seven surviving siblings: George, Isabella, Lilian, Florence Maud Huxford (b.1902), Isabella Huxford (1904-1987), James Edward Huxford (b.1907) and Henry Albert Huxford (1910-1946). His father described himself as a "Butcher Smithfield worker". The census form also shows that only 8 of his 9 siblings were still alive. Another sister, Violet Louise Huxford (1911-1953) was born on 7 June 1911.

As a boy scout in the 2nd Walworth Troop, he drowned, aged 12 years, on 4 August 1912 in the tragedy at Leysdown on 4 August 1914 and was buried on 15 August 1912 in the War Graves Plot, Square 52, in Nunhead Cemetery, Linden Grove, London, SE15 3LP. His death was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1912 in the Sheppey registration district, Kent.

He was named after, but not related to Lord Baden-Powell. One wonders how his parent felt about Baden-Powell after the tragedy.