Francis Thomas Blencowe [8484]

Killed in action 31^st Oct. 1916

1885-1916

Father Nm: Francis William Blencowe [8436] born 1855 Moorabin Vic died 22.7.1937 Sandringham – Oldest known ancestor: Thomas Blencoe d 1755 Kings Sutton * DNA link Thomas Blencowe 1475 Marston St Lawrence.

Mother Nm: Catherine Hogan [8485] born 1853 Co Limerick Ireland died 1923 Sandringham

Marriage Dt: 23 Apr 1913.

K comments:

Spouse Comments: Mary Ellen nee Lyons 1884-1962.

Children: William Patrick 1914, Margaret Mary 1916.

(Research): MW.

Born 1885 Moorabbin, Victoria Australia

1903 Xavier College

Francis Thomas Blencowe, passed in Greek, Latin, Geometry, English, History, French;

Advocate (Melbourne, VIC)
Date: Jan 10 1903

 

WW1

Blencowe Francis Thomas, 1885, Moorabin, Private, 5343, 23^rd, 7^th and 59^th Battalions, AIF

1916

• 21^st Feb. Enlisted at Warragul a Farmer from Nering Junction.
• 24^th Mar. After training joined ‘D’ Coy 23^rd Bn. Royal Park.
• 31^st Mar. 1916 transferred to 7^th Battalion 17^th Reinforcements (2nd Training Battalion).
• 4^th Apr. Unit embarked Melbourne on board HMAT A14 Euripides.
• 12^th May. Disembarked HMAT Euripedes at Suez.
• 25^th May. Transferred to 15^th Training Battalion as reinforcement to 59^th Battalion
• 21st Jun. Departed Alexandria. Arrived Marseilles 30 Jun 1916
• 27^th Jul. Joined 59^th Battalion, 15^th Brigade in the field. The battalion had just been involved 20^th/21^st Jul. in the Battle for Fromelles when they were committed to attacking the German positions along the Laies River the 59^th Bn. suffered 695 casualties, so Francis was a welcome re-enforcement.¹
• Aug-Sept. Two quiet months mainly in the Rue de Bois area.

Note: It at this point that several possibilities for the place and circumstances of Francis being KIA are set up.

• 24^th-25^th Oct. On these two days men were detached from the Bn. to perform duties elsewhere they were away until after 1^st Nov. It is possible Francis was in one of these groups and was killed while with them.
• 30^th Oct. Battle of Amiens. On the day before Francis was killed the Bn. was moved to Carlton Trench just south of Longueval. The war diary does not have an entry for the 31^st Oct. Note; 334 other ranks were detached from the battalion at this time.

1. 31^st Oct. Reported Killed in action. no war diary entry for this day indicates some times a very busy day for the Battalion. On this day three men were killed; Francis, Private Westley Currie 4764 and Private Richard Grenfell 4794.

   

2. 1^st Nov. Diary reports that on the 1^st the Bn. is still in Carlton Trench  and also a party sent to Switch Trench. Diary reports 3 other rank casualties that day but the CWGC database has no deaths for the battalion on the 1^st Nov. so these must be the three who died on the 31^st Oct.

   

From the research done it appears Francis was killed in or near Carlton Trench, his body was most likely not recovered as he is remembered at Villers-Brettoneux. This fact also suggests a shell was the cause of his death ie not identifiable.

• December,

  

  Family notice to share their grief from Francis parents

Sources

1. 59th Bn. War Diary.
2. 8th Field Coy. Engineers War Diary.
3. 8th Field Ambulance War Diary.
4. Complete Service Record.

Medals

Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British, Victory medals.

In about 1921-22 Mary Ellen Blencowe would have received a Scroll and Plaque from the King and more importantly an Australian War widows pension for a woman with two children of 3 Pound 15s per fortnight.

Memorial VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MEMORIAL – Panel 167

Neerim memorial

Francis remembered locally at the War memorial in Neerim unveiled in Novmeber 1920 and reported in the Gippsland Gazette (Warragul, VIC)
Date: Nov 23 1920

Gallery