Reuben Blencowe [1722]

1873-1942

Father Nm: Thomas Blencowe [1104] c 14.4.1832 Bishops Itchington parents Thomas & Mary blacksmith died 2.3.1907 buried St. Mary Banbury: Oldest Known Ancestor – Thomas Blencowe,1803, Bishops Itchington.

Mother Nm: Mary Ann Powell [1666] 1834 Deddington died 1900 Neithrop.

Marriage Dt:(i) 4 Apr 1896 (ii) 15 Mar 1919 to Florence Rymill Banbury vol. 3a Page. 2056.

Kin comments: Family commitment to the war was great. Twin sons Thomas and Joseph with the DCLI. Nephew Harry served with the RGA. Nephew John served with the Royal Navy. Brothers Arthur, Reuben and Edward served with the Ox and Bucks. Nephew Albert was killed with the Oxford and Bucks and Nephews William served with Royal Engineers.

WW2. Grandson Joseph 1922 served with the RAF in England, France and South Africa.

Spouse Comments:

(i) Ellen Elizabeth Parker 1875-1915

(ii) Florence Caroline Rymill 1919-1946.

Children: Joseph & Thomas 1899, Bertie Mafeking 1900-1902, Charles 1902-04, Alfred 1904 Annie May 1906, Charles Reuben 1909, Ellen Elizabeth 1911, Bernard 1912, Arthur 1914.

(Research):1881, 1891 Census* GR[B] Banbury Dec 1873, GR[M] Banbury June 1896 JD Banbury Parish, Register* Transcr Banbury Parish Register.

1881 Census

Baxters Yard, Neithrop

Thomas Blencowe 51 Labourer
Mary A. Blencowe 47
Willm. Blencowe 23 Carter
Arthur Blencowe 18 Porter
John Blencowe 15
Mary A. Blencowe 12
Reuben Blencowe 8
Edward Blencowe 5

1891 Census

Town End Court, Neithrop

Thomas Blencowe 62 Masons Labourer
Mary A Blencowe 57
Reuben Blencowe 18 Masons Labourer
Edward Blencowe 15 Masons Labourer

1901 Census 5 Union St Neithrop

Reuben Blencowe 28 Bricklayer
Ellen Elizabeth Blencowe 26
Reuben Blencowe 4
Joseph Blencowe 2
Thomas Blencowe 2
Bertie Mafeking Blencowe 10 Months

1911 Census 5 Union Square Neithrop

Blencowe Annie May Dau Banbury 4
Blencowe Alfred Son Banbury 6
Blencowe Bertie Mafehing Son Banbury 10
Blencowe Charles Son Banbury 2
Blencowe Ellen Elizabeth Wife Ireland 35
Blencowe Ellen Elizabeth Dau 6 Weeks
Blencowe Joseph Son M 5
Blencowe Reuben Head Bricklayer 38
Blencowe Reuben Son News Boy 14
Blencowe Thomon Son 12

 

1895-1899

Served (4 years) with the 4th Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.

Enlisted 27 May 1895 at Aldershot.

Blencowe Reuben Private 3948 4^th Ox. & Bucks Light Infantry.

Discharged Medically unfit on 31 Jul 1899. It does appear that before the war the Army was more stringent on fitness and medical tests both Reuben and his brother Edward were discharged unfit to serve but were enlisted no trouble for the war.

1911 Census

5 Union St., Neithrop

Blencowe Annie May Dau Banbury 4
Blencowe Alfred Son Banbury 6
Blencowe Bertie Mafehing Son Banbury 10
Blencowe Charles Son Banbury 2
Blencowe Ellen Elizabeth Wife Ireland 35
Blencowe Ellen Elizabeth Dau 6 Weeks
Blencowe Joseph Son M 5
Blencowe Reuben Head Bricklayer 38
Blencowe Reuben Son News Boy 14
Blencowe Thomon Son 12

WW1

Blencowe Reuben, 1873, Banbury, Private, 21511, TR5/4829, 6th Ox. & Bucks Light Infantry, 11^th Durham Light Infantry, 2^nd T.R. Bn.

1914

• 24^th Sept. Enlisted with the 6^th Oxford and Bucks LI at Oxford; age 41 years; occupation bricklayer. The 6^th Bn. was a Reserve Battalion based in UK until July 1915.

1915

• 2^nd Jul. Transferred to the 11^th Bn. Durham LI was part of the 60^th Brigade 20^th (Light ) Division.. This Bn. was at this time converted to a ‘Pioneer’ battalion designed to use the skills of people like Reuben a bricklayer, the battalion was made up of men who were both workmen and soldiers and for this received an extra allowance.
• 20^th Jul. Embarked Southampton for France. Landing at Boulogne, the 20^th division concentrates in the Saint-Omer area.
• 27^th Jul. Taken on strength, France. They moved to the Fleurbaix area for trench familiarisation.¹
• Aug. During August 1915, the 11^th DLI were based near Fleurbaix, working mostly around the small village of La Rue du Bois, just to the south of Armentieres. They were still learning the ropes, but mainly ‘on the job, repairing and maintaining the fortifications and keeping the trenches fit for use. ²
• Sept. The battalion spent their second month on the Western Front in the Laventie sector, gradually moving from a base area near Fleurbaix to one based at Estaires. They continued with a mixture of general Pioneer work, overnight trench work to improve fortifications, assisting with tunnels and mining alongside the 173^rd Tunnelling Company and the 181^tsth Mining Company, and unloading barges on the canal side. ²
• 13^th Oct. 11^th DLI was manning the front line with the 60^th Brigade. The German lines were shelled, a smoke screen barrage was put down and dummies were waved above the parapets to make it look like an attack. Needless to say, this eminently stupid piece of theatre occasioned a massive artillery response from the Germans. 11^th DLI alone lost three killed and fourteen wounded. ²
• Nov. For most of the first half of November, the battalion alternated between spells in the trenches in front of Rue du Paradis and spells on working parties. Sections of men were frequently called on to assist with mining and tunnelling work. Others made winter stables for the horses and improved the standings for the animals. In the second half of the month, more time was spent behind the lines doing drainage and road-building work. On 10 November the billets at Epinette were hit by German shells, killing three instantly and wounding seven more, two of whom died later.²

1916

• Feb. In February 1916, the 11th DLI were about to move from the Laventie Front to a new experience around the Belgian town of Ypres. The battalion was initially deposited at Zermezeele before marching on to Winnezeele and then to billets around Elverdinghe. Most of their work was in trenches near the banks of the Yser Canal, constantly interrupted by shelling and by gas alerts.²
• Mar. During March 1916, the 11 DLI were stationed at a château near Elverdinghe. The weather was universally bad throughout the month, with cold, rain and frost. The battalion was travelling daily from the base to work on improving the trench systems but, as fast as they worked, the weather undid much of what they achieved. By the end of March, the battalion was spending more time making dugouts to replace the tents and huts that were not protected against enemy shelling. Five lost their lives, but many more were wounded and fell ill.²
• May. At the end of the month, the battalion was moved to Brandhoek for more work on the front lines. Every night at about 8.30 pm they went by train to Ypres, worked in the trenches “reclaiming, draining, wiring, repairing and heightening parapets” and caught the train back at Ypres Asylum at 2 in the morning.²
• Jun. Throughout June 1916, 11^th DLI were stationed near Brandhoek on the Ypres Sector. Week by week it was a long haul of work on trenches, virtually without let-up.²
• 26^th June. Reuben was wounded in action possibly by shell fire although reported as Gun Shot Wounds chest and left thigh. War Diary “The repetitive and dangerous work (trench building) was interrupted only briefly on 26 June when work was suspended due to heavy shell fire.” ² Perhaps this is the night Reuben was wounded.
• 1^st Jul. Invalided home.
• 1^st Sept. Transferred to the 2^nd Training Bn. of Durham LI. With the serial number TR5/4829

1917

• 26^th Mar. Discharged unfit to serve at York.

Sources

1. Wartime memories
2. 11^th Durham Light Infantry.

Note: Before and after the war all four brothers had been honourably discharged and were all living within a few paces of each other see the map of Banbury with their homes denoted.

Medals

Awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British, Victory Medals and the Silver War Badge.

After the War

1919

 

 

• March. Reuben takes over the Publican role at the Fir Tree PH. North Bar from Banbury Advertiser. At the same time, Reuben a widower remarried Florence on 15th March.

 

1927

• October, New Landlord of the Vulcan Arms 19 Foundry Square, Banbury.

  

1939 Census

	FIRST NAME(S)	LAST NAME(S)	DOB	SEX	OCCUPATION	MARITAL STATUS
	Reuben	Blencowe	03 Nov 1873	Male	Publican (Licensed Victualler)	Married
	Florence C	Blencowe	15 Jan 1874	Female	Unpaid Domestic Duties	Married

Note brother Edward Blencowe and wife living next door at No 18 Foundry St in 1939.

1942

The Licence to operate The Vulcan Inn passed into his wife’s hands when he died as this newspaper article attests. Florence held onto the Vulcan Inn until September 1943.

Death 1942 age 69 years.

Banbury, Volume: 3a Page: 2078.

GALLERY

Note: there are 14 records that exist for this man that are not shown in the Gallery for copyright reasons.