Charles Edward Blencowe  [4284]

  

Killed in Action 3^rd May 1918

1889-1918

Fathers Name: John Ebenezer Blencowe [3148] born 09 Mar 1855 in Peckham, – Peckham J.Q Mother Coldman died on 31 Jan 1942 in Croft House, Heads, Nook Hayton, Cumberland ; Oldest Known Ancestor – Thomas Blencowe abt 1475 Marston St Lawrence.

Mothers Name: Isabel Howard Goodenough 1856 Camberwell died on 13 Jan 1937 in Durenda Hillsborough Rd, Bognor Regis, Sussex .

K comments: Brother Frederic John was a Captain 1st Mate in the Merchant Navy during the war. Cousins; Sydney Fenner Blencowe was killed in 1917 in France serving with the 48th Battalion AIF. ; Thomas Horn Blencowe served with the Royal Engineers in East Africa;  Francis Drake Blencowe served in the London rifles until wounded and then the RAMC; Arthur James Blencowe served with the Royal Artillery

(Research): GR[B] Lambeth June 1889.

A descendant of the Blencowe’s of Brackley, Charles was born on 12 April 1889 at West Norwood SE London to John Ebenezer Blencowe and Isabel Howard Goodenough of Cranleigh, Surrey. He was the youngest brother of Herbert, Frederic (Capt. Jack), Alice, Nellie and Elsie and was educated at St Olave’s Grammar School.

1891 Census Gipsy Rd Lambeth

1. John E Blencowe 36 Printers Clerk
2. Isabella H Blencowe 35
3. Alice M Blencowe 13
4. Nellie Blencowe 12
5. Herbert A Blencowe 10
6. Frederick J Blencowe 9
7. Elsie I Blencowe 5
8. Charles E Blencowe 1
9. Ada K Chieves 17

1901 Census 21 South Croxted Rd Lambeth

1. John E Blencowe 46 Accountants Clerk
2. Isabel H Blencowe 45
3. Alice M Blencowe 23 Dressmaker
4. Nellie Blencowe 22 Worker
5. Frederick J Blencowe 19 Sailor
6. Elsie J Blencowe 15
7. Charles E Blencowe 11

1909

Shown in Border Crossing documents from Canada to the USA with his cousin Sidney Fenner Blencowe. Destination stated as Spokane Washington. Charles probably emigrated for a new life, but unfortunately, the war came along and instead he enlisted in the British Army and died in the Great War as did his cousin Sidney Fenner Blencowe

1910 US Census

Nehalem, Tillamook, Oregon

Charles Edward Blencowe, Occupation hired man.
Sydney Fenner Blencowe, Occupation hired man

This is the last we find both Sydney and Charles in United States, they did not it seems travel with each other when Sydney traveled back to England in 1911. It seems Charles took the same path because 4 years later he is in England to enlist for war service. Some mystery surrounds Charles use of the nom de plume Arthur Stewart he for instance may have used this when leaving the US for England.

25th Bn. Royal Fusiliers	The Wiltshire Regt.	Royal Sussex Regiment

WW1

Blencowe Charles Edward, 1889, Norwood, 2^nd Lieutenant, GS/13409, 25^th Bn. Royal Fusiliers, Royal Sussex Regiment, 1^stWiltshire Regt.

Charles used a nom de plume of Arthur Stewart when first enlisting in the 15^th Bn. Royal Fusiliers in 1914. It’s a mystery why he did this and how long he used this as his Army name. We do know that in 1922 the Army Medal Index card was corrected.

1915

• 4^th Mar. 1915 Enlisted at London into 15^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. Gave his name as “Arthur Stewart”‘, of Putnum, Ontario, Canada! This name crossed out and amended “alias Blencowe C. E.” NOK “Stewart Stewart”, brother, same address’, Occupation is given as “farmer”‘which was unlikely given his Lambeth residence.
• 10^th Apr. Embarked to act against German-occupied East Africa, Charles a Private in the 25^th Bn. Royal Fusiliers.

  

• 6^th May. The 25^th Royal Fusiliers arrived at Mombasa, in British East Africa, and went at once to the military post, Kajiado, on the Uganda railway.

  

• 19^th Jun. A small detachment of about 400 men embarked for a successful raid on Bukoba via Kisumu and sailed across the lake, the wireless installation was blown up, ammunition and stores destroyed; and at sundown, on the 24 June, the men re-embarked and returned to Kisumu. It was one of the few incidents which were wholly satisfactory during the campaign.
• 24^th Jun. Charles was likely involved in the Battle for Kwa Direma. a partially successful battle but with some casualties. In any event, this would appear to be the last major skirmish that he could have served in besides several patrols there was no major action until June 1917.

1917

• 5^th Mar. Invalided home to England with “disability” 5th March 1917.
• 26^th Mar. Arrived in England.
• 27^th Mar. Rejoined Royal Fusiliers.
• 11^th Apr. Transferred to 5^th Bn. Reserves Fusiliers 11th Apr 1917.
• 21^st May. Joined detachment St Margarets.
• 18^th Jun. Temporary Commission
• 7^th Sept. 20^th Officer Cadet Bn., Crookham, Hampshire 7th Sept 1917. His CO of the 5th Bn. described Charles as “Clean and fairly smart with good word of command and plenty of confidence. Keen: should do well as an officer if smartened up!”
• 17^th Dec. Discharged to Commission

1918

• 23^rd Apr. Transferred on attachment to the 1^st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment. 1^st Bn. the war diary for the day; Bn. in rest at Jock Camp. A large draft of 16 officers & 330 men arrived on this day bringing the strength of the Bn. to 21 officers & 760 OR, all the new officers belonging to the Durham Light Infantry.

Charles Edward died near Clytte, Belgium and while with the 1^st Wiltshire seems not to be in dispute. What is not clear is how and when exactly.

• 27^th Apr. The war diary for the 1^st Bn. Wiltshire’s for the 27^th April (one of two days it seems there is some claim to be his death date) says this “1000yds N of La Clytte. During the morning, the 7^th Bde was relieved by the 75^th Bde, the Bn. being relieved by the 8^th Border Regt. The Bn. moved to shelter trenches, SE of Reninghelst. Major H C Cannon MC, The Queen’s Regt having been appointed 2^nd in Command took over command of the Bn. Quiet night. Casualties: OR 1 wounded.”Judith Gardiner refers to some correspondence with his mother concerning his actual date of death (written on black-edged paper). She had received a note (included in the file) from Chaplain Church who said he was killed on 27^th Apr. I918, not 3^rd May 1918. Also recorded by BFA member ( Judith Gardiner) “The War office at pains to point out tho latter date was correct – said he only joined the unit on 1^st May 1918 Could not, say exactly where he was killed, but it was ” in action” somewhere in France or Belgium”.

The entries into the 1^st Wiltshire Bn. War diary from the 27th to the 3^rd May read thus.

• 28^th Apr. Reninghelst trenches. “S E of Reninghelst. “Quiet day. Vicinity of the Bn. shelled during the early evening. Routes for forwarding area reconnoitred with a view to supporting the forward Bde. At 8.0p.m. the French were attacked around Scherpenberg. The Bn. was bombarded with gas shells. “

• 29^th Apr. Reninghelst trenches. “Heavy bombardment commenced at 3.0a.m. The Bn. again shelled with gas. At 12 noon orders were received to the effect that the enemy had broken through on the right and that the Bde were to dig a defensive flank W of the Reninghelst – La Clytte road. Information was received that the French on the right were in their original line. The Bn. moved to a valley 1000yds forward and a trench line was reconnoitred to be dug at dusk. Touch was gained with the 146 & 156^th French regiments. Orders were received to return to original positions which manoeuvre was complete by 8.0p.m. The Bn. was placed under the command of the 39th French Div. Quiet night. Casualties: OR 11 wounded.
• 30^th Apr. Reninghelst trenches. (Appendix I) “SE of Reninghelst. At 1.15 a.m. orders were received to concentrate the Bn. S of De Ster Cabt and to be ready to support an attack to be made by 156^th French Regt at 2.0a.m. The Bn. moved off at 1.45 a.m. but orders were received cancelling the operations so that the Bn. returned to its former position. A quiet day with hostile gas shelling in the evening. Orders were again received to support the French at Mt Scherpenberg and the Bn. was in position by 7.30 p.m. The Lieut Col Commanding the 156^th French Regt gave orders for the Bn. to be concentrated 1000yds N of De Ster Cabt, to which position it had moved and was accommodated in small shelter trenches by 8.0p.m., the zero-hour of the French attack. At 12 midnight orders were received from the French to move back to the former position NE of Reninghelst, which move was complete by 1.0p.m. The French attack was successful. Casualties: Nil. [signed] Furze Lieut Colonel Commanding 1st Bn. The Wiltshire Regt. 367a Appendix I Ordre pour le Bn. de la 7^th Bde W le 30 Avril 1918 23b Le Btn de la 7^th Bde W Pent rejourdre sa Division Le Lt Colonel Cddg le Regt le remercie du Concours se correctement Prete au Regt Le Lt Colonel Cdg le Regt 20CA 39 Division 76 Regt d’infie”
• 1^st May. Reninghelst trenches. NE Reninghelst. A quiet day with a certain amount of hostile shelling in the vicinity of Bn. HQ. After dark, the 7^th Bde relieved the 75th Bde in front line S of La Clytte.. The 8^th Border Regt relieved the 1st Wiltshire Regt, the relief being completed by 8.30 p.m. The Bn. then took up the positions in Bde Reserve vacated by the 8^th Border Regt in a trench 1000yds N of La Clytte, the Coys being arranged B, A, C, D from the right. Quiet night. Casualties: 1 OR wounded.
• 2^nd May. Reninghelst trenches.“Bde Reserve trenches 1000yds N of La Clytte. Hostile artillery was active at dawn. Positions reconnoitred with a view to a possible counter-attack. A quiet day with enemy artillery again active at dusk Casualties: Nil.”

• 3^rd May. Reserve trenches. “Bde reserve trenches. Enemy artillery was active at dawn. Quiet day. Officers of 3^rd Bn., 15^th Regt 5^th French Div arrived during the afternoon to reconnoitre the positions prior to relief. The Bn. was relieved by 3 Coys of the French, the relief being complete by 12.30 a.m. 4^th May. Casualties: OR 1 wounded.”

Conclusion War Diary for this period do not mention Charles Blencowe (or for that matter Arthur Stewart) being killed and this is unusual for an officer not to be mentioned.

• 18^th May. Death reported in the Birmingham Daily Post 18^th May 1918.

Sources

1. War Diaries of 1^st Bn. Wiltshire Regiment.
2. The Old and the Bold British East Africa May to December 1915.
3. Official History. Military Operations East Africa, Volume I, August 1914 – September 1916 compiled by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hordern.
4. London Gazette, No.29414 dated 23rd December 1915.
5. Three Years of War in East Africa – Capt. Angus Buchanan M.C.
6. Thanks to BFA member Judith Gardiner for assisting in some of the research.

Further reading:

1. The Royal Fusiliers in the Great War, Published 1922 by W. Heinemann in London.
2. Sketches Of The East Africa Campaign By Capt. Robert V. Dolbey.
3. Extract “Of the most romantic interest probably are the 25^th Royal Fusiliers, the Legion of Frontiersmen. Volumes might be written of the varied careers and wild lives lived by these strange soldiers of fortune. They were led by Colonel Driscoll, who, for all his sixty years, has found no work too arduous and no climate too unhealthy for his brave spirit. The 25^th Fusiliers, too, were out here in the early days and participated in the capture of Bukoba on the Lake. A hundred professions are represented in their ranks. Miners from Australia and the Congo, prospectors after the precious mineral earth of Siam and the Malay States, pearl-fishers and elephant poachers, actors and opera singers, jugglers, professional strongmen, big-game hunters, sailors, all mingled with professions of peace, medicine, the law and the clerk’s varied trade. Here two Englishmen, soldiers of fortune or misfortune, as the case might be, who had specialised in recent Mexican revolutions, till the fall of Huerta brought them, too, to unemployment; an Irishman there, for whom the President of Costa Rica had promised a swift death against a blank wall. Cunning in the art of gun-running, they were known in all the tides of the Caribbean Sea, and in every dodge to outwit the United States patrol. Nor must I forget one priceless fellow, a lion-tamer, who, strange to say, feared exceedingly the wild denizens of the scrub that sniffed around his patrol at night.”
4. The poetry of Charles Edward Blencowe

The UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919

Name Charles Edward Blencowe, Death Date: 3 May 1918, Rank: 2/Lieutenant (T), Regiment: Royal Sussex Regiment. Battalion: Battalion Not Shown, Type of Casualty: Killed in action, Comments: Attached 1/Wilts Reg.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

In memory of Second Lieutenant CHARLES EDWARD BLENCOWE Regimental number: 13409, Royal Sussex Regiment. 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, who died aged 29 in action somewhere in France or Belgium on 03 May 1918.

Memorials

Cranleigh, Surrey War Memorial

Also at Tyne Cot Memorial: Panel 86 to 88. West-Vlaanderen Belgium

Medals

Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals

Gallery

Note: Charles files contain 50 plus service records that are copyrighted and not displayed here.