Benjamin Berkeley Blincoe [8917]

1899-1958

Known as Bert or Burt.

Father Nm: Benjamin Joseph Blincoe [7791] born 8.4.1864 Daviess Ky ; Oldest known Ancestor: James Blincoe C1646 England.

Mother Nm: Dodie Boone [8912] 1868.

Marriage Dt: 25 January 1936 Yuma, Arizona

K comments: Brother Henry Gonza served with the 116^th and 314^th Engineers.

Spouse Comments: Minnie Alberta Luke was born in 1888 Montana-1979.

Children:

Born 1^st Jan 1899 Daviess County Kentucky

Ca. Death Reg.

1910 Census Magisterial District 4, Daviess, Kentucky

1. Ben J Blincoe 45
2. Vera M Blincoe 20
3. Archie Blincoe 18
4. Gonza Blincoe 14
5. Benjiman B Blincoe 11
6. Medora Blincoe 4

9th infantry	2nd Division

Blincoe, Benjamin Berkeley “Bert”, 40370, Corporal, Coy ‘K’, 9^th Infantry, 2^nd Division.

The prime source of record of Bert’s service is contained in an article in the Syracuse Herald in April. 1919.

Article 13th April 1919 Syracuse Newspaper

Corporal Blincoe is located by the Herald-Service Bureau and gets information four days after the request.

The date of Bert’s enlistment is unknown but very likely was in 1917 and was with the 9^th Infantry when it arrived in France in October 1917.

Note: Constituted September 21, 1917, in the Regular Army as Headquarters, 2^nd Infantry Division, 2nd ID was organized on October 26, 1917, at Bourmont, Haute Marne, France. At the time of its activation, the Indian head Division was composed of the 3^rd Infantry Brigade, which included the 9^th Infantry Regiment; and 23^rd Infantry Regiment; and the 4^th Marine Brigade, which consisted of the 5th Marine Regiment and the 6th Marine Regiment, a battalion of field artillery, and various supporting units. The 9^th Inf. consisted of Regimental HQ, 1st Batt: A, B, C, D; 2nd Batt: E, F, G, H; 3rd Batt: I, K, L, M; HQ Co., MG Co., Supply Co., Ordnance Detachment, Veterinary Field Unit, Medical Detachment, (Ed.)

1917

• Bert was in camp at Syracuse in the summer of 1917.
• 7^th and 18^th Sept. The 9^th Infantry sailed from Hoboken to St Nazaire arriving 20^th Sept.
• 24^th Sept. The 2^nd Division began its concentration.

The division spent the winter of 1917–1918 training with French Army veterans in the Bourmont Area.

1918

• Along with the French army, the 2^nd Div. began the occupation of the front line Toulon, Rupt, and Troyon sector (Lorraine). The position taken up by the 9^th Inf. was north of St Mihiel and in an area where positions had stalemated since 1914. There was a large no man’s land but the Germans were thought to be occupying at night destroyed villages of Spada and Moulin de Relaincourt. Patrols were sent out to ambush these movements and this was where the first casualties were taken for the 9th.
• 13^th Apr. Raid on German lines. This raid of about 500 handpicked men may well have been when Bert was wounded. (above report wounded in the first action.)The raid featured hand-to-hand fighting as the 9^th Inf. were able to get up close to the enemy trenches. 5 Killed and 11 missing from the raid with 69 Germans buried by the 9th and numerous POWs.
• 25^th Apr. 3^rd Bde (incl 9^th Inf.) assembles in Rouvrois and Molainville.
• 6^th-20^th May 9^th Inf. training Bar-le-Duc Training Area.
• 20^th -30^th May. 9^th Inf. training Chaumont-en-Vexin Area
  • 27^th May. Enemy attacks across the Chemin des Dames)
• 31^st May. Aisne-Marne Defensive Chateau-Thierry.
  • The 1^st and 2^nd Battalions of the 9th Inf (ie not Bert’s 3^rd Battalion) went by truck to Chateau-Thierry to try to stop the German advance to Paris.
  • The 2^nd Div at the disposal of the Fr. Army and under the command of XX1 Corps.
  • The 3^rd Brigade Motor Machine Gun battalion sped to Chateau-Thierry to stop the advance successfully.

• 2-3^rd Jun. The enemy captured Belleau, and the French retreated leaving the 2^nd Div to be the front line.
• 4 -5^th Jun. 3^rd Bde on the right of the line east and north edge of Bois de la Marette.
• 6^th Jun.-9^th Jul. Aisne-Marne Defensive (Chateau-Thierry). 2^nd Div. occupied the Chateau-Thierry sector
  • The 9^th Inf. advanced lines June 6th-7th. Held lines and repulsed repeated counter-attacks from June 1st to July 9th. Bert’s ‘K’ Company came to the aid of 23^rd Inf. in this attack.
  • 23-24^th Jun. German Gas attack on the night of the 23-24^th of June where the brigade suffered over 400 gas casualties. Most of the attack had fallen to the North and South of the Paris-Metz Highway, close to Thiolet. “B” Company of the 9th Infantry had its HQ in Thiolet, the Company itself in the Bois de Clerembauts.

Note: In the month of June 1918 the 3^rd Bde had 17 officers and 302 enlisted men killed and 36 officers and 1414 enlisted men wounded. Of note was a German gas attack on the night of the 23^rd-24^th of June where the brigade suffered over 400 gas casualties. Most of the attack had fallen to the North and South of the Paris-Metz Highway, close to Thiolet. “B” Company of the 9^th Infantry had its HQ in Thiolet, the Company itself in the Bois de Clerembauts.

• • End of June. 3^rd Bde (comprising the 9^th and 23^rd Infantry Regiments) held the ground to the South of the woods, facing Vaux. They were frustrated, having suffered losses in 3 weeks of positional warfare, but not having had the opportunity to strike back.

    

  • 30^th Jun. The final plans for the attack on Vaux came down from III. Corps HQ. The 2^nd Division to attack the village of Vaux with the French 39th Division attacking Height 204. The railway lines to the East of Vaux would be the dividing line. The American attack would be carried out by the 2/9^th Infantry regiment and the 3/23^rd Infantry regiment. A company of the 5^th Machine Gun Battalion was to carry out a machine-gun barrage. Artillery support would be given by the 15^th Field artillery Regiment and attached batteries from the 17^th Field Artillery Regiment. Also attached were three battalions of French Artillery.

  • 1^st Jul. The 2/9^th Inf. under Major Bouton attacked with E Company on the right, H Company on the left and F and G companies in support. The company of attached engineers was standing by in Vaux. The attack was a walkover and the Battalion entered Vaux with no casualties. E Company pushed through the town meeting negotiable resistance taking its objective, the railway to the East of Vaux with its right flank touching the highway Viaduct. It took the company 20 minutes to reach its objectives.

  • 9^th Jul. The 9^th Inf. left this sector and went to La Barre, Bezu, Chambardie District.

• Jul.17^th -25^th Aisne-Marne Offensive (Soissons).

  • 14^th Jul. 2^nd Div assigned to 10^th French army and moves to the southwest of Soissons near Taillefontaine.

  • 17^th Jul. 9^th Inf. went to Villers-Cotterets by truck.

• 18-20^th Jul. Battle of Soissons. Bert is Wounded. As part of a huge French-American attack the 2^nd Div. attacked east and captured the hamlets of Beaurepaire, Vauxcastille, and Vierzy. The 9^th Inf. took part in the 18th-19th. Bert was likely among 1065 of the 9^th Inf.. men wounded in this battle. Casualties were very heavy with 9^th Inf. suffering 19 Officers and 182 men killed, 33 Officers and 1065 men wounded, 59 missing. The 9^th Inf. awarded an additional one palm of the French Croix de Guerre for this battle. The citation reads” “During the offensive of July 18, 1918, (Soissons), this regiment was unexpectedly thrown into action in the dead of night, over unknown and difficult terrain and displayed remarkable ardour and tenacity for two days despite fatigue and the difficulties of obtaining food and water, driving the enemy back 11 kilometres, capturing 2700 prisoners, 12 guns, and several hundred machine guns.”

  

• 20^th Jul. 9^th Inf. marched from Retheuil to billets and then on 25^th Jul. 9^th Inf. marched to Levignen and then onto Peroy-Les-Combries. ⁹ Note: Bert being wounded it is likely he was out of the action for some time and probably rejoined the 9^th Inf. later on, we do not have records for exactly when so an explanation of operations of the 9^th Inf. continues until the war ends.

• 31^st Jul. 9^th Inf. entrained at Ormoy-Villers for Nancy where replacement men and officers were received. ⁹

• 4^th Aug. Marched to Quartiers-Flamechamp-Brabzard and Seille to relieve the 261^st French Inf. Went into the line on the 5th.

• 9^th-19^th Aug. 2^nd Div occupies the Marbache Sector (Lorraine). The front line of the sector is 1 km southeast of Port-sur-Seille, Morvillesur-Seille, along the south bank of the Seille River to the north-east edge of Bois de Cheminot, Lesmenils, La Vitree, Pont-a-Mousson, Montrichard, Haut de Rieupt (all incl).

  • 16^th Aug. Relieved by 325^th Inf of 82nd Div. that evening a mixed patrol of 9^th Inf. and 325^th was involved in some fighting resulting in 1 man killed and 15 wounded from the 9^th Inf. Later the 9^th Inf. marched to Colombey-les-Belle training area. ⁹

  • 16^th -1^st Sept. 9^th Inf. Training Colombey-les-Belles Area. Billeted at Bulligny, Bagneux and Crezilles. ⁹

• 1^st Sept. 2^nd Div. moves to the vicinity of Francheville on Sept 3, 9th Inf went by truck to St. Mihiel Sector enters corps reserve. ⁹

• 9/10^th Sept. 2^nd Div moves to the woods north of Noviant-aux-Pres and Manonville and relieves units of 89^th and 90^th Divs in the Limey Sector. ⁹

• 10-12^th Sept. Div occupies the Limey Sector (Lorraine). The front line of this sector on the south face of the St-Mihiel salient extends south-east of Remenauville to the north of Limey; 5th Div on the right, 89th Div (IV Corps) on the left. Sept 12, the Limey sector occupation merges into the St-Mihiel Operation. ⁹

• 12-16^th Sept. The St-Mihiel Offensive.

  

• • 2^nd Div attacks on a 2 km front as the left Div. of the I Corps, brigades in a column, the 3rd Inf. Bde. leading advances through the Bois du Four, Haie l’Eveque, east part of Bois du Beau Vallon, Bois d’Heiche, Bois du Fey, Thiaucourt, and over the heights to the north. ⁹

  • 12^th Sept. 9^th Inf. attacked near Limey, no real resistance was encountered. In and around Bois de Four machine gun nests were encountered and overcome. 1600 POWs taken, casualties 2 officers and 48 men killed, 4 officers and 299 men wounded. ⁹

• 20^th Sept. 9^th Inf. marched to Toul Rest Area. ⁹

• 25^th Sept. Entrained for Chalons-sur-Marne. ⁹

• 30th Sept. During the night shelled in camp, 3 killed 15 wounded. ⁹

• 30^th Sept – 10^th Oct. Argonne-Meuse Offensive (Champagne).

• 30^th/1^st Oct. The 2^nd Div. begins the relief of the French 61^st and 21^st Div. north of Sommepy on a 3 km front; the 4^th Marine Bde. is in the front line; the 9^th Inf. is in reserve in shell holes at Navarin Farm .^4,9

• 30^th Sept. 9^th Inf. went by truck to Suippes. ⁴

• 2/3^rd Oct. The 2nd and Bert’s 3^rd battalions of the 9^th Inf. came up in the night of 2/3^rd Oct with orders to pass through (advance) the French the next day.The 3^rd Inf. Bde. moves toward the Bois des Pins and occupies attack positions. ^4,9

• 3^rd– 9^th Oct. Capture of Mont Blanc Ridge. Bert Severely Wounded.

  

• The 3^rd Inf. Bde. advances northwest from a line that extends from west of Pavon-et-Puits northeast of the Sommepy railroad station; the 2 km gap between the Marine Bde. and the 3^rd Inf. Bde. closes as the attacks converge at the intersection of the Medeah Fme. Blanc-Mont, and Somme-Py, St-Etienne-a-Arnes roads. ⁴

• 3^rd Oct. The 9^th Inf. with 6^th Marines in an attack on Blanc Mont Ridge, on October 3rd, and engaged here until relieved on October 9th. It seems that on this day the 3^rd Battalion of the 9^th Inf became isolated in the front line and exposed on their flanks. Reading through the detail of the 6 days of action until the 9^th Inf were relieved this seems the most likely time for Bert to have been wounded.

• Given the objective of taking the Blanc Mont Ridge, which was the most important German position in the Champagne. Attacking the western edge of the ridge, some Marines called the attack on 3 October “the toughest day of the war.” Supported by tanks and artillery, the 2nd Infantry Division took the crest of Blanc Mont in three hours of some of the most terrible fighting of the war. Once again we rely on the 1919 newspaper report that indicates Bert was wounded a third time in October and again this seems the most likely place and time (although it could be later in October).

Note: The division had won a hard-fought victory at Mont Blanc, for which it was awarded the French Fourragère in the colours of the Croix de Guerre.

• Balance of the fighting 4^th– 9^th Oct. 2^nd Div. captured the remainder of the ridge and pushed north to the village of St. Etienne. The Div. front now extends from Medeah Fme. To the south of Hill 160, thence southward along the road from St-Etienne-a-Arnes to Somme-Py as far as the Medeah Fme, Blanc-Mont road, thence westward to the heights of Blanc-Mont; Fr 167th Div on right, Fr 21st Div (Fr XI Corps) on left. ⁴

• 6^th Oct. 2^nd Div. uses the 71st Inf Brig (36th Div), attached, to relieve its front-line units. Then withdraw to Pylone Hill and the Blanc-Mont ridge. ⁴
• 7^th Oct.French units enter the west outskirts of St-Etienne-a-Arnes.⁴
• 8^th Oct. Capture St Etienne-a-Arnes. 71st Inf Brig, with 2 battalions 2^nd Div attached for flank protection, attacks, captures St-Etienne-a-Arnes and pushes its right to the north of, and parallel to, the road from St-Etienne-a-Arnes to Orfeuil thus breaking the back of German resistance on this front.. ⁴
• 9^th Oct. 36th Div relieves the 2^nd Div. which had suffered 4,754 casualties in this campaign. ⁴

• 14^th Oct. 2^nd Div (less detached units) moves north of Chalonssur- Marne to reserve positions near Bouy and Vadenay. The 9^th Inf. marched to Courtisel (Courtisols)

Bert is after the attack on Blanc Mount Ridge taken to field hospital and ends up in Mesves-Bulcy Hospital (Loire) in Oct.

• 2^nd Nov. Mesves -Bulcy Convalescent Hospital. The nurse writes to friends suggesting that Bert is so far recovered that he is ready to return to his unit in the near future. If Bert was returned to his unit it may well have been after the Armistice. But for the purposes of completeness, the Meuse-Argonne offensive is detailed below.

• 27^th Oct – 11^Th Nov. Meuse-Argonne Offensive.

  • 25/26^th Oct. 3^rd Inf. Bde. concentrates near Charpentry. 9^th Inf. marched to the Exermont region.

  • 30/31^st Oct. 2^nd Div relieves the 42^nd Div

  • 1^st Nov. 2^nd Div. Attacks toward Bayonville-et-Chennery advance through Landres-et-St-Georges, St-Georges, Bois des Hazois, Landreville, Bayonville-et-Chennery, and establishes a line, southwest of Barricourt, 89^th Div on right, 80th Div (I Corps) on left.

  • 2^nd-5^rd Nov. The 3^rd Inf. Bde. advances through the 4^th Marine Bde. toward an exploitation line from Nouart to Fosse and causes the enemy to withdraw from the Bois de la Folie. The 9^th Inf. leapfrogged Fifth Marines, November 2nd, advancing until November 4th. Leapfrogged 23rd Infantry evening of November 5th. Advanced and took up front-line position west bank of Meuse from Beaumont to Mouzon.
  • 3^rd Nov. The 3^rd Inf. Bde. advances to the line from Champy-Haut to Bellevue Fme and that night pursues the enemy via the Belval-Bois-des-Dames, Beaumont road through the north part of the Bois du Port-Gaache to la Tuilerie Fme.
  • 4^th– 5^th Nov. The 3^rd Inf. Bde. establishes outposts from near Belle Tour Fme to the high ground south of Beaumont, the enemy withdrawing to the east bank of the Meuse; the 4th Marine Brig moves to the ridge southeast of Vaux-en-Dieulet. At night 3^rd Inf. Bde. leading advances toward the Meuse. Nov 5, 2^nd Div. enters Beaumont and Letanne and occupies the heights of the Meuse.
  • 10^th-11^th Nov. Armistice. Elements of the 2^nd Div cross the Meuse east of the Bois de 1’Hospice and reach the heights south of Moulins, the north and south ridge through Senegal Fme, and Warmonterne Fme. On 11^th November 1918, the Armistice was declared. The 9^th Inf. took part in an attack on the night of November 10th; and crossed Meuse morning of November 11^th.
  • 12^th-16^th Nov.Billeted in Beaumont.
  • 17^th Nov. March to the Rhine. The 2^nd Div. marched through Belgium, Luxembourg and Rhine Provinces, arriving at Remagen, 9^th December.

1919

• 10-22^nd Jan. Sailed from France to Hoboken N.J. from the troopship Manchuria and taken to Base Hospital at Camp Merritt. source – All U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 results for Blencowe
• 6^th April. Fully recovered Bert is transferred to CampTaylor, Kentucky to be discharged.

Note: The journey of the 9^th infantry through Europe in WW1 can be seen here

Sources

1. http://www.kaiserscross.com/
2. Order of battle of the United States land forces in the World War
3. Expeditionary Forces divisions Vol. 2 Center Of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1988.
4. The Second Division, Syllabi Of The Histories Of Regiments and Separate Organizations. From the dates of the organization to June 1, 1919. Coblenzer Volkszeitung, Coblenz, Germany.
5. Aisne-Marne Offensive, 18 July – 6 August 1918, Group Research – Group VII- Captain Zeidner.
6. US Militaria Forum.
7. Ninth Infantry Toulon – Troyon.
8. Research and information provided by Bill and Muriel Bourke relatives.
9. Manchu.org website.
10. All U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 results for Blencowe

Medals

Bert’s medals would have included these; French Medal issued to the US Army who fought at Meuse Argonne, Victory medal and would have received this medal with clasps for the Aisne, Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector, The Purple Heart for his woundings, and the State Service medal struck for Louisville residents.

Note: The division won hard-fought victories at Soissons and Mont Blanc, for which it was awarded the French Fourragère in the colours of the Croix de Guerre.

After the War

1920 Census Louisville Kentucky

Bert was living in Louisville, KY in enumeration district 221 with his father, stepmother, and sister Mary (listed as Medora in the 1910 census).

1940 Census. Long Beach, California

Bert (Berkley) a Painter and his wife, Minnie, are living in the home of his wife’s daughter from a previous marriage. Also found him in Long Beach in California voter rolls as early as 1930 and as late as 1951, and in Long Beach city directories 1936-39,1941-43, 48, and 51.

Death December 13, 1958 Age 59 years

SSN 564-10-4550, Last occupation: Bonderizer, Number of years in this occupation: 30.

Name of last employing company or firm: Ford Motor Co. Bonderite Co.

If the deceased was ever in the U.S. Armed Forces, give war or dates of service: WWI

Name of present spouse: Minnie A. Blincoe.

Place of death: Seaside Memorial Hospital, 1401 Chestnut Avenue, Long Beach LA.

The last usual address: is 33 East Louise St.

Burial, 12-17-58 All Souls Mausoleum.

Cause of death: Cancer of the Pancreas.

Gallery