Blencowe Cyril A 1895

Cyril Albert Blencowe [4506]

1895-1935

Fathers Name: John [229] c 30.5.1864 Caversfield died 1911 [7004]Bicester ; Oldest Ancestor William Blincow, C1702, Bicester.

Mothers Name: Matilda Eliza Austin 1867.

Marriage Dt:1917 to Beatrice May Winman, Registration district: Bicester, Volume Number: 3a Page Number: 2334.

Spouse Comments: Beatrice May Winman. [7004] born 1896 died 1935 Bicester

Kin Comments: Brother Fred James served with the 96th Territorial Reserve Batt, RDC and Dorset Regt. Brother John Joseph served with the Rifle Brigade.

Sons Thomas Frederick Cyril served with the Oxford and Bucks LI and Frederick served with the RAF in WW2

Children: John Albert [6941] 1918, Thomas Frederick Cyril [6942] 1920, Frederick 1923-2003

(Research): GR[B] Bicester Sept 1895 Bicester Parish Register.

Birth 1895

Bicester Volume: 3a, Page: 878.

1901 Census Chapel Yard Sheep St Bicester

Blencowe Frederick J Son 7
Blencowe John Head Carter on Farm 36
Blencowe John J Son 3
Blencowe Matilda Wife 33
Blencowe Thomas W Son 1
Blencowe Cyril A Son 5

1911 Census 7 Bardwell Terrace Bicester

Blencowe Cyril Son 5 7
Blencowe Dora Dau 8
Blencowe Fredr Son 7
Blencowe John Head 46 Oxfordshire
Blencowe John Son Shopkeeper 13
Blencowe Matilda Wife 42
Blencowe Thomas Son 10

WW1

Blencowe Cyril Albert, 1895, Bicester, Private, 4696, 1^st/4^th Battalion, Oxford and Bucks LI.

Cyril volunteered for service and joined as a Territorial soldier.

1915

22^nd Mar. Cyril’s Silver War Badge record informs us he enlisted on this date. His battalion was the 1/4^th Bn. OBLI was confirmed also by Medal Roll, There is no Star medal but the British and Victory medals awarded indicate overseas experience 1915 onwards.

1916

Feb.Cyril entered the theatre of war in France.
16^th Mar. Admitted to the Convalescent Depot with a sprained right ankle and stayed in depot for 6 days. Records state 3 weeks with filed force and 1 year enlisted. ⁵
18^th Apr. Admitted to Hospital Ship Delta. suffering from Erythema (skin injury or inflammation) Stayed for 6 days of treatment. ⁵
1^st Jul. The Battle for the Somme. VIII Corps (Lieutenant-General A G Hunter-Weston). Attack on Beaumont Hamel and Serre. The Battalion and most of its Division the 48^th was to be in Corps Reserve at Busles Artois⁷
On 5^th Jul. Graham Greenwell of 1/4^th Oxford and Bucks wrote home from G Sector at Hébuterne: “Here we are again, back in the trenches, or rather canals, as the water is over our knees”. He was to be there until the 8th of July.
“Yesterday afternoon I had a good look at the battlefield of 1st July through the telescope at a splendid observation post. It was a very interesting sight; it lay just to the right of us; the whole plain sloping up to the village called Serre held by the Germans was visible. Our troops attacked it after 6 days’ bombardment, and after getting into the village were driven back to their original trenches. Heaps of bodies are still lying out there unburied, but the Germans and ourselves have been sending out stretcher parties each night. The three lines of German trenches in front of the village are absolutely shattered and are almost leveled; their thick wire is absolutely wrecked, but their machine guns did appalling damage in spite of everything. The village is one mass of ruins with a few gaunt trees standing up before the battle it was thickly wooded and almost invisible. Far to the right, I could see our guns shelling a large German railway centre behind the line – good sight”. ⁵
14^th-17^th Jul. The Battle of Bazentin Ridge* in which the Division captured Ovillers.
- 14^th Jul. Trenches Hebuterne. Our Artillery opened on front line trenches. This provoked a very severe reply from the enemy who opened intense MG fire, & put a terrific barrage with shells & trench mortars, along with Jones & Caber (trenches). Fortunately only one casualty, from P Bomb. Lewis Guns & Machine Guns are active all day. Men ordered to show fixed bayonets over the top of the parapet.
- 15^th Jul. Patrol sent out ran into trouble 1 Officer seriously wounded.
- 16^th Jul. Relived in the trenches.
17^th Jul. Moved via Authie – by bus – Bertrancourt – Forceville – Hedauville to Bouzincourt
23^rd Jul. Pozieres.The Battalion attacked just east of Pozieres. A Company on the left, D on the right, B in support, C in reserve. The objective on the left was reached almost at once; that on the right after a hard struggle. At least two counter-attacks had to be repulsed. At 4 a.m. we were reinforced by two companies of the 4^th Berks. Heavy shelling all day, but no further attacks were delivered. In the afternoon it became evident that the Battalion had suffered heavily, and at night we were relieved. Officers; 1 missing, believed killed; 1 killed and 8 wounded. Other ranks;73 killed, many wounded.⁴

* The battles above part of The Battle for the Somme

Serving alongside Cyril at Pozieres was Sergeant Alfred Blencowe 1/4^th Bn. from Banbury who was killed in the battle. Also serving was Corporal Arthur Harold Blencowe 1/4^th Bn. from Oxford.

1^st Aug. Cyril was discharged in Aug 1916 sick. He may not have been involved in all of the action in July at the Somme.

Note a medical record exists that shows in 1916 Cyril was admitted to 2nd General Hospital at Le Havre this admission is most likely related to his eventual discharge on sickness grounds.

2nd General Hospital Le Havre was situated in the Casino Lechin

Sources

Western Front Association.
Passchendaele Day-by-day website.
1/4th Oxford & Bucks, 1916-1919 Roll of Honour.
Full War Diary of 1/4th Battalion.
Somme 1916 Gerald Gliddon.
Extracted From The Regimental Chronicles Of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Compiled by Steve Berridge.
Slaughter on the Somme by John Grehan, Martin Mace.
Hospital records national archives MH106/930.