Born in Wyre Piddle , son of Harry & Madeline ( nÃ e Winn ) , near Pershore , Worcestershire , Choules joined the Royal Navy as a young man in 1916 , and served aboard the Naval Training Ship HMS Circe situated at Plymouth . Born in Pershore , Worcestershire , and raised in nearby Wyre Piddle , son of Harry and Madeline ( nÃ e Winn ) , in April 1915 aged 14 Choules joined the Nautical Training Ship Mercury before transferring to the Royal Navy in October 1916 to serve aboard the Naval Training Ship HMS Circe situated at Plymouth .