Richard Blencowe [4620]

1899-1959

Known as Dick note Army records surname is Blencoe.

Father Nm: (Henry) George Blencowe [3883] born 1869 Culworth (Brackley D.Q. 1868) ; Oldest known ancestor William Blencowe, C1811, Culworth.

Mother Nm: Sarah Ann Knight 1872.

Marriage Dt: 1922, Marriages Sept 1922, Wood Eleanor A Blencowe Rugby 6d 1645.

K comments:

WW1: Brother George Edward (Ted) served with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

WW2: Brother Jack served with the Artillery before the war and in WW2. Daughter Iris served with the ATS Signals section in Germany.

Spouse Comments: Eleanor Amelia Wood born 4 Aug 1897 Braunston Northants died 1988 Rugby

Children: Iris S 1923, Maureen M 1928.

(Research):GR[B] Rugby Dec 1896 earlier sibling who died? GR[B] Rugby Sept 1899 GR[D] Rugby vol 9c p1318 March 1959.

Family Tree

Born 1899

Born 8 June 1899 Stretton on Dunsmore

1901 Census Stretton on Dunsmore

1. Blencowe George E Son 1897 Stretton on Dunsmore 4
2. Blencowe George Head Wood Worker 1870 Culworth 31
3. Blencowe Richard Son 1900 Stretton on Dunsmore 1
4. Blencowe Sarah A Wife 1872 Brandon 29
5. Blencowe Selina Dau 1894 Stretton on Dunsmore 7 Stretton on Dunsmore Warwick

1911 Census Stretton on Dunsmore

1. Blencowe Caroline Dau F 1909 Stretton On Dunsmore 2
2. Blencowe Edward Son M 1897 Stretton On Dunsmore 14
3. Blencowe Elizabeth Dau F 1904 Stretton On Dunsmore 7
4. Blencowe George Head Wood Cutting Machinist M 1870 Culworth 41
5. Blencowe John Son M 1910 Stretton On Dunsmore 6 Months
6. Blencowe Richard Son M 1900 Stretton On Dunsmore 11
7. Blencowe Sarah Ann Wife F 1871 40
8. Blencowe Sarah Ann Dau F 1904 Stretton On Dunsmore 7

Machine Gun Corps	North Staffs Regiment

WW1

Blencowe Richard, 1899, Tamworth, 18868, 11838, 11^th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment, 65^th M.G. Coy. and Bn. Machine Gun Corps.

synopsis

Dick was relatively fortunate to have been selected for a battalion that was in one of the quieter corners of the war i.e. the Salonika front in Macedonia. While there were some casualties amongst his Division and MGC Company they were relatively light compared to the Western front experience. The largest peril it would seem was the climate and Malaria and unlike Harry and Edwin Blinko (who were also in Macedonia) he escaped the curse. But for a brief visit to a Casualty Clearing station in 1917 (because all his records are lost ) we wouldn’t have known his MGC Company or whereabouts in the war. He is seemingly fit at the end of the war and returns home to Stretton to marry and have two girls, his death at 60 is young by today’s measures but par for a lot of the WW1 veterans.

1915

• Oct. Enlisted just before 15^th Oct. (Ser. No. 11869 enlisted on 24^th Sept.1915 and 11864 on 4^th Oct. 1915). Tamworth Herald 15^th October reports Dick’s enlistment while it incorrectly reports RFA as the regiment this date men joined the 11^th Bn. North Staffs Regiment. On 10^th April 1915 the 11^th Bn. became a Reserve Battalion and moved soon afterward to Darlington. Moved on to Rugeley Camp (Cannock Chase) in September 1915. On the 1^st of September 1916 converted into the 4^th Training Reserve Battalion of the 1^st Reserve Brigade at Rugeley. It is in this period that Dick was with the 11^th Bn. and in training (at Belton Park) before assignment to the newly formed 65^th Coy. Machine Gun Corps which was to be part of Bde. 22^nd Division.

  

1916

• 14^th Jul. The 65^th Coy. Machine Gun Corps arrived in Salonika to be part of the 65^th Brigade 22^nd Division. The 22^nd Div. was part of XII Corps and was stationed on the Doiran Front.

  

  The 22^nd Div (including 65^th Coy. MGC) is credited with the battle honours in 1916 of Horseshoe Hill and Machukovo however after examining the casualties and records of these battles it’s not clear they had much of a role in them. Overall casualties for these battles pale in comparison to western front actions and at Machukovo only 19 deaths are recorded at the Salonika Graveyard which primarily remembers the campaign men.

  

• 10^th-18^th Aug. The Battle of Horseshoe Hill. At the beginning of August ,1916 three French and the 26^th Div. with 45,000 men and 400 guns launched an offensive against the Bulgarian positions at Lake Dojran, defended by the Second Thracian Infantry Division. The attack began on 9^th August. All four attacks that followed – on 10^th, 15^th, 16^th and 18^th August were repulsed by the Second Division and the Allies were forced to retreat to their original positions with heavy casualties.³ It would appear the Note; In the records of the main Cemetery in Salonika there are just 18 deaths for this period,the so British part is this battle must have been limited .³
• 14^th Sept. Battle of Machukovo. Newspaper cutting describes in overview the action. From another source “September 13-14^th the King’s Liverpool Regiment and Lancashire Fusiliers stormed and occupied the enemy’s position at Macukovo, killed over 200 Germans and captured 71. The work was, however, exposed to the enemy’s artillery fire, and in face of his attacks in superior force it was found necessary to retire after a successful demonstration.”⁵
• 13 Sep – 3 Oct. Richard was admitted to the 28th General Hospital in Salonika. The records say Diarrhea ie dysentery from the poor living conditions are very likely. Note that in 1917 he was also treated for Fever at the 31st Casualty Clearing Station.

1917

• 10/11^th Feb. To invade and neutralise Bulgaria the Allies would have to breach the Bulgar front line. On the night of 10^th Feb. 1917, the 26^th Div. attempted this by launching an unsuccessful attack on Petit Couronne, perched high above a rocky ravine. Meeting fierce resistance, running out of ammunition, and having lost huge numbers of casualties they were forced to withdraw. They had taken thirty prisoners and inflicted heavier casualties on the Bulgarians, but the position remained untaken. ⁶
• 24/25^th Apr.The First Battle of Doiran.

• Dick was admitted to 31^st Casualty Clearing Station suffering from fever (Pyrexia) he was sent on to an Ambulance train the next day. The record provides vital proof of his MGC Coy and his whereabouts in the war.

1918

In mid-1918 a number of units transferred to France, Dick doesn’t appear to be among them as he doesn’t have another regiment or battalion on his Medal Roll.

So Dick and the remainder of the division were again in action at Doiran just before the Armistice with Bulgaria was signed at the end of September 1918.

• 18-19^th Sept.The Third Battle of Doiran. On the left flank, the British XII Corps with the 22^nd and 26^th divisions, reinforced by the Greek Serres Division was to attack the difficult Pip Ridge. The 66^th and 67^th Bdes. of the 22^nd Div. attacked on the first day, the 67^th Bde. advanced into Bulgarian artillery and machine-gun fire and lost 65% of its soldiers. On the 19^th Sept. Dick’s 65^th Bde. was involved in the attack but failed.
• 20^th Oct. Attempted Landing Dedeagach (Alexandroúpolis)

  

  The Division was at Stavros and embarked on destroyers to attempt a landing at Dedeagach (Alexandroúpolis), but rough weather forced abandonment and the infantry finally landed on the 28^th and reached Makri before the Armistice with Turkey. Note Although the Bulgarians lost this war they did gain territory all along its southern frontier, including an outlet to the Aegean with the port of Dedeagach (Alexandroúpolis).

1919

• Demobilisation began at Chugunsi and was complete by the end of March 1919.
• 21^st Jun. Discharged to Class Z Reserves from the Machine Gun Corps.

Sources

1. Jacqueline Beardsley daughter of John Thomas Blencowe brother to Ted and Dick Blencowe.
2. First World War Representative Medical Records of Servicemen NA ref.MH106/619.
3. Wikipedia.
4. CWGC database of casualties.
5. 1914-1918.invisionzone.com War Forum.
6. The Keep Military Museum.
7. 1914-18 Encyclopedia-The Balkans.

Medals

Awarded the British and Victory medals.

After the War

Married 1922 and had two children born in Rugby

1939 Census

Richard Blencowe 08 Jun 1899 Male Length Man Permanent Way (Railways) Married
Eleanor A Blencowe 04 Aug 1897 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
Maureen M Moore (Blencowe) 25 Jan 1928 Female At School Single

Death 1959 Age 59 years

Rugby, Warwickshire. Volume: 9c Page: 1318.

GALLERY

Note: there are 3 records that exist for this man that is not shown in the Gallery for copyright reasons.