Richard Blencoe  [4540]

1897-1974

Note: The spelling of this family name varied over the years sometimes Blencowe other times Blencoe.

Father Nm: Richard Blencowe [3843] born 1865 Kings Sutton (Brackley J.Q.) ; Oldest known ancestor John Blencowe C1807 Kings Sutton.

Mother Nm: Hannah Lines [8926] 1870 Sibford Oxon

Marriage Dt: Jun 1923 – Birmingham, Warwickshire,  Name: Richard Blencoe, Spouse: Capness, Qtr Feb-Apr-May-Jun 192.

K comments: WW1: Brother Ernest Edward also served in with the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment.

WW2: Son Lawrence just 18 yrs old was killed on the 7th June 1944 one day after landing with the 2nd Battalion on D-Day invasion.

1. Spouse Comments: Elizabeth Capness 1897-1968

Children: Kenneth Richard 1923-1987, Laurence Sidney 1925-1941.

(Research): GR[B] Tamworth March 1897 GR[D] Birmingham vol 32 p 1731 Dec 1974, Births Mar 1897 Blencowe Richard Tamworth 6b 478.

Birth 31 Jan. 1897

Source 1939 Census

1901 Census Balfour Villa, Kingsbury Warwicks.

1. Richard Blencowe 36 Coalminer
2. Hannah Blencowe 31
3. Earnest Blencowe 12
4. Edith Blencowe 9
5. Annie Blencowe 7
6. Beatrice Blencowe 6
7. Richard Blencowe 4
8. Minnie Blencowe 11 Months

1911 Census Farm House Tamworth

1. Blencoe Annie Dau Tamworth 18
2. Blencoe Elsie Dau Tamworth 9
3. Blencoe Ernest Boarder Nr. Banbury 22
4. Blencoe Hannah Wife Nr Banbury 41
5. Blencoe Horace Son Tamworth 2
6. Blencoe Laura Boarder Tamworth 26
7. Blencoe Minnie Tamworth 11
8. Blencoe Richard Head Farm Labourer Nr Banbury 46
9. Blencoe Richard Son Farm Labourer Tamworth 14
10. Blencoe Sydney Son Tamworth 6

Royal Warwickshire Regiment	Pioneer Collar Badge

WW1

Blenco(w)e Richard, 1897, Tamworth, Private, 26230, 10^th and 14^th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

1917-1919

Enlisted in the 10^th Bn. Warwickshire’s, 57^th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division sometime in early 1917 (SN 26151 enlisted on 13 Feb 1917) and was sent overseas for the last part of the war. It seems at some point Richard transferred to the 14^th Bn. 5^th Division. This means that he either was on the western front all of the war or he possibly went to Italy in the 1917-1918 winter and then returned to the Western front. Note the Army records the surname as Blencowe.

1917

• Apr. On the 1^st Apr., 15 other ranks joined the 10^th Bn. and Richard could have been one of them. The Bn. in training in the Hazebrouck area of the Armentieres Sector.

  

• May. In Trenches near Hulluch and Bois Carre at the beginning and end of the month. Some casualties.
  • 29^th May. 44 other ranks joined the 10^th Bn. and Richard could have been one of them
• 7-11^th Jun. The Battle of Messines Ridge.

  

  The battle started with the detonation of 19 massive mines under the German lines, the Artillery and Infantry would have taken full advantage of the disarray in the German lines. The 10^th Bn. as part of the 19^th Div attacked objectives just north of the village of Wytschaete. The final objective of the Division was the Black Line just on the outskirts of Oostaverne Wood. In summary, the village of Oostaverne was captured. Casualties 2 officers and 98 other ranks.

  • At 4hrs into the attack the Bn. reached the Green Line the British barrage fire caused some casualties in the Bn. The Black Line was occupied by the enemy there was a short exchange of fire but then 70 enemy soldiers lay down their arms. The Bn searched Oostaverne Wood about 80 officers and men surrendered freely.
  • The advance through the village of Oostaverne and on to Odonto trench was made unimpeded. The Bn could not move forward from the Odonto trench because of British shell fire and so withdraw to some shell holes.
  • 8^th Jun. Coys moved forward again to their positions of the previous evening and continued the work of consolidation. Enemy snipers firing from the remains of dug-outs and shell holes in an S.E. direction were active and inflicted casualties on Coys. Some of these were outflanked and half a dozen prisoners including an Officer of the 105th Kaisers Imp. R was taken. Our shelling and a few rounds from a Stokes Trench Mortar dispersed most of the remainder. Representatives of the 7 L. N. Lancs R. came up during the afternoon to take over.
  • 9^th Jun. The relief was reported completed. Coys. marched back and took up positions in the Green Line
  • 10^th Jun. The enemy sent over a few heavy shells during the night and during the day causing a few casualties. 50 men per Coy. were employed clearing the battlefield. The Bn. commenced to withdraw by a platoon from the left in the line and proceeded to Curragh Camp.
• 20^th-21st Sept. The Battle of the Menin Road Ridge. The 57th Infantry Bde. took part in an attack on a wide front. The Bn. was in Bde. Reserve. After 30 mins of attack the Bn. moved forward into the Support Line. The Bn. Coys. were ordered to take up positions

• • A Coy I36.b.9.7.5 to 7.4.5
  • C Coy I36. b.7.4.5 to Klein Zillebeke
  • D Coy Klein Zillebeke tp I36.c.9.7.5
  • B Coy trench running through the wood from I36.b.0.4 to 4.7

• • A number of casualties were sustained during this move forward through enemy shelling
  • Coys were called upon to support any of the attacking Bns.
  • Casualties, 2 Officers, 20 OR’s killed 1 OR died of wounds. 1 Officer wounded and 64 OR’s wounded 7 OR’s missing.
  • 21^st Sept. Bn. relieved. but during relief casualties were 25 wounded and 4 missing.
• 27^th Sept. to 1^rd Oct. The Battle of Polygon Wood.
  • 27^th Sept. Bn. conveyed by lorries from Vierstraat to St Eloi where they then marched to the front line and relived the 10th R.N. Lancs R. Disposition J 26.c.9.) to J 26.d.6.9. In the trenches during this battle no combat and a few casualties from shell fire.
  • 1^st Oct. Relieved by the 2^nd N. Staffs.
• 11-14^th Oct. The Battle of Poelcapelle. South of Zillebeke.
  • 11^th Oct. In Trenches. Bn marched to Spoil Bank and Verbrandenmolen and relived 9^th Welsh Fusiliers. Very quiet relief, 2 OR’s wounded.
  • 12^th Oct. Quiet 5 OR’s wounded.
  • 13^th Oct. Enemy Artillery was more active. 2 Germans walked into to outpost and were captured claiming to have lost their way.
  • 14^th Oct. Quiet in the day and relived at night by 10th Worcesters. Casualties 2 OR wounded.¹
• Nov. It seems very likely that Richard may at this point been transferred to the 14^th Bn. Warwickshire Regiment moved to Italy with the 5^th Division in November 1917. Note the war diary mentions 5 Officers being transferred to the 5^th Division on 28^th Nov. no mention of other ranks being transferred but typically this was the case in reporting to not specify other ranks by name. Note the 14^th Warwicks were also known as the 1^st Battalion of Birmingham Pals.
• Nov-Dec. The 5^th Div. took the journey to Italy by train via Troyes, Dijon, and Lyons, to Marseilles, through the Riveria and onto the final destination of the train Legnago or Montegnana.

1918

The 14^th Bn. Warwicks,13^th Bde., 5^th Div. took up positions on the River Piave in January 1918, however, the brief respite from the western front was ended with the German spring offensive and the 5^th Div. was hurriedly returned to France in April 1918.²

• Apr. The German Spring Offensive- Bois de Nieppe. The 5^th Infantry travelled again by trains which went via the Riviera and up the Rhone Valley, others by the Mont Cenis route, and Frevent, Mondicourt., and Doullens were reached on 7th April. The Germans by this time were within 10 miles of Amiens.²
  • 11th-12^th Apr. The Arriving Infantry, entrained at Monlicourt and Soulty, and proceeded via Doullens, St. Pol, and Chocques, arriving at Thiennes and Aire on the night of the 11^th Apr.²
  • The Div. was ordered to take a line that was to be held at all costs, from Robecq in the South, through the Forest (Bois de Nieppe), to La Motte Chateau. The 13^th Bde with the 15^th Warwicks on the right, the 14^th Warwicks on the left, the K.O.S.B. in support was one of two Brigades to take up the order. The troops pressed on through and on either side of the Forest, meeting with only a few stragglers of the 50^th Div., reached the Eastern edge, and established themselves 100 to 200 yards outside. The Devons, on the right of the 95^th Brigade, pushed forward to the lock and bridge over the Bourre stream, where they stopped any further advance of the Germans.²
  • 13^th Apr. In the right sector, in the afternoon, an attack developed against the 14^th Warwicks, who repulsed it, except at Le Vertbois Farm, into which the enemy penetrated; during the night they retook this farm, unfortunately losing their CO.; but later they evacuated it, as it formed a too exposed salient in the line.²
  • 14^th Apr. The 14th Warwicks were again also involved in an enemy attack, necessitating a slight withdrawal; but the support Company of the Devons immediately counter-attacked.²
  • The casualties for April had been severe; the 13^th Bde. (incl 14^th Warwicks) lost 81 Officers and 500 other ranks.

• 18^th Aug, On the night of 18^th Aug. the Div., moved to the Authie-Doullens area, with the 13^th Bde. around Bouquemaison.²
• 20^th Aug. The Battle of Albert. After dark on the 20^th, the infantry marched to the assembly trenches, averaging 8 or 9 miles over a totally unknown country, and was successfully carried out. ²
  • 22^nd. Aug. The Capture of Irles. The 13^th Bde. Was moved up to complete the capture of Irles, and exploit the success of the morning’s attack as far as Loupart Wood. Zero hour was fixed for 7.30 p.m. from right to left was, West Kents, 14^th and 15^th Warwicks, with the K.O.S.B. in support. The attack was successful, though on the right the West Kents lost direction slightly, and only one Platoon entered Irles.²
  • The first three days’ fighting had been crowned with success, the captures of the Division being 2,768 prisoners, 25 guns, over 350 machine-guns, 37 trench mortars, and a large number of anti-Tank and other rifles. Div. casualties were 70 officers and 1600 other ranks.²

• 25^th Aug. Div. received orders to be ready to relieve the 37^th Div. and continue the advance. The 13^th Bde. was concentrated West of Grevillers.
• 26^th Aug. The K.O.S.B.of 13^th Bde. advanced against Beugnatre under a creeping barrage. Some resistance was met in the middle of the village and two Companies of the 14^th Warwick’s were sent up to re-enforce the line, and by nightfall the position was entirely satisfactory, touch being maintained with the N.Z. Division on the right. An attempted counter-attack at about 11 p.m. was broken up by Artillery fire.²
• 3-14 Sept. the 14^th Bn resting at Sapignies.
• 27-30^th Sept. Capture of African Trench and Gouzeaucourt.

  

  • 27^th Sept. The 14^th Bn. was front and left in an attack by the 13th Bde on ‘African’ trench near Gouzeaucourt. The 14^th Warwicks started well, and after some opposition made good their objectives on the centre and left, connecting up with the 15th Warwicks. Unfortunately, the 14^th Bn. was bombed out of some of its position.
  • 28th Sept. In the morning the resistance had weakened, and the West Kents moved forward into African Trench, followed shortly afterwards by the 15^th and 14^th Warwicks occupying Lincoln Reserve and Smuts Trench.
  • 30th Sept. The 5th Div. was relieved
• 5^th Oct. The 14^th Bn. became Pioneer Bn. to the 5^th Division.
• 11^th Nov. Armistice. Le Quesnoy. The Division was in camp after this date in this location

1919

Richard was most likely discharged this year.

Sources

1. The War Diary of the 10^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt.
2. The Fifth Division in the Great War by A. H. Hussey
3. The Birmingham Pals by Terry Carter.

Medals

Awarded the British and Victory Medals.

After the War

1921 Census

Stretton-On-Dunsmore, Rugby

George	Blencowe	Head	Male	1869	51	Culworth, Northamptonshire, England	Timber Faller	Greens Timber Merchant
Sarah Amy	Blencowe	Wife	Female	1871	50	Warwickshire, England	Home Duties	–
Edward	Blencowe	Lodger	Male	–	–	–	–	–
Richard	Blencowe	Son	Male	1899	22	Stretton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire, England	Builders Labourer	Foster And Dicxey, Builder
Sarah Ann	Blencowe	Daughter	Female	1903	17	Stretton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire, England	Home Duties	–
Elizabeth	Blencowe	Daughter	Female	1903	17	Stretton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire, England	Pump Connection Fitter	Blacnell Brothers, Celluloid Works
Caroline	Blencowe	Daughter	Female	1908	12	Stretton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire, England	–	–
John	Blencowe	Son	Male	1910	10	Stretton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire, England	–	–
Edith	Blencowe	Daughter	Female	1913	7	Stretton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire, England	–	–

Child Kenneth Richard born in 1923 in Tamworth

Child Laurence Sidney born in 1925 in Tamworth.

1939 Census 22 Kemberton Road, Birmingham C.B., Warwickshire, England

Kenneth Blencoe 08 Nov 1923 Male S P O Messenger Single
Richard Blencoe 31 Jan 1897 Male Coal Carter (Heavy Worker) Married
Elizabeth Blencoe 17 Jun 1897 Female Household Duties Unpaid Married

One other not disclosed. Possibly son Laurence Sidney Blencoe 1925-1941

Death 1974 age 77 years

Birmingham, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Volume: 32 Page: 1731.

GALLERY

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