Blencowe Frank 1888

Frank Blencowe [11285]

1888-1959

Father Nm: Thomas Blencowe 1838; Oldest known ancestor, Thomas Blencowe d1755 Kings Sutton.

Mother Nm: Hannah Lavinia Eddy 1864.

Marriage Dt: 1911, Ontario, Canada, Marriages, 1801-1928, Name: Frank Blencowe, Spouse Name: Nellie Snowden, Marriage Date: 29 Nov 1911.

Spouse Comments: Nellie Snowdon abt 1890.

K: Brothers Edward James served with the 177th Bn. Canadian Expeditionary Force and Thomas served. with the No 2 Construction Company.

Children: Ronald Frank 1919, Frederick A. 1921 and Eric John 1925.

1891 Census Oro Ontario

Thomas Blencowe 54
Hannah L Blencowe 28
Charles Blencowe 7
Wm Edward Blencowe 5
Frank Blencowe 1
Mary Blencowe 0

1911 Census Oro, Simcoe County, Ontario.

George J Marshall 40
Emma M Marshall 41
Mary Edith Marshall 11
Charles Walter Marshall 9
George Harold Marshall 8
Frank Blencoe 23


No 2 Construction Battalion

No 2 Construction company graphic — Soldiers of the No 2 Construction Company

A Blencowe with African ancestry, Frank served in WW1 in an all-Black military unit of the CEF

WW1

Blencowe Frank, Private, 931604, CEF No. 2 Construction Bn.

1916

24^th Oct. Enlisted with No 2 Construction Bn. CEF at Chatham Ontario. Age at enlistment 28 yrs; Occupation: Teamster Married to Nellie Blencowe and father of 7 children. Address at Enlistment: 285 Wellington Street E., Chatham, Ontario.
2nd Construction Battalion (COURTESY WINDSOR MUSEUM. click to enlarge

1917

15^th Mar. Embarked from Halifax for Liverpool travelled on SS Southland
17^th May. After a period of training in England the No 2 Construction coy. Was transported and landed in France on 17 May 1917. The No. 2 Construction Battalion (an all-Black battalion) served in France with the majority of the men being assigned to the No. 5 Canadian Forestry Corps (Jura Group).
26^th Oct. Admitted to Jura hospital with Epididymitis and stayed there until 28^th Nov 1917 and then rejoined Regt. on 12^th Dec 1917

1918

11^th Dec. Transported back to England.
27^th Dec. Taken on strength 2 C.D.D. (Canadian Discharge Depot) at Rhyl.

1919

19^th Jan. Posted to CEF at Bramshott.
8^th Feb. Discharged at London Ontario.

Medals

Frank was entitled to British and Victory medals plus the Canadian War Service Badge, Class A.

Cdn. War Service Badges -Army Class A – Criteria; Members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) who served at the front and had retired or relinquished their commissions, been honourably discharged, or returned to or retained in Canada on duty.