Blencowe Charles A 1893

Charles Albert Blencowe [4430]

1893-1961

Father’s Name: John William 1849 Banbury, died 1930 Kidderminster.; Oldest Known Ancestor – William Blencowe Stoney Stratford 1780.

Mother’s Name: Mary Jones 1850-1917. BIRTH 1850 • Clun, Salop, England
DEATH APR 1917 • Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England

Marriage Dt:`1923 Marriages to Elizabeth Walters, Kidderminster Vol. 6c Page 183.

Kin Comments: Brother Harry James served with Royal Fusiliers, Labour Corps and 13^th Bn. DCLI. Brother John William served with Army Services Corps.

Cousin Rose Ellen Blencowe (Barber) served as a Nurse in WW1

Spouse Comments: Elizabeth Walters.

Children: Robert A. 17 Sept.1924, Patrick J. 6 Feb1928.

Births Jun 1893 Blencowe Charles Albert Kidderminster 6c 246.

(Research): GR[B] Kidderminster June 1893 GR[D] Birmingham June 1961.

Birth

22nd April 1893, Kidderminster.

1900-1907

St George Boys National School living at Hurcott Road, Kidderminster
Enrolled in 1900 and left to start work in 1907 as an office boy at age 14.

1910 appointed Asst. Postman

1911 Census 12 Coventry Street, Kidderminster Worcestershire

Blencowe Charles Albert 17
Blencowe Agnes May 28
Blencowe John 61
Blencowe John William M 26
Blencowe Mary 61

1911 September transferred to Birmingham as a Postman.

1914 Emigrated to Canada destination Cluny Alberta.

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935 about Charles Blencowe, Name: Charles Blencowe Occupation Farmer, Gender: Male

Age: 21, Estimated Birth Year: abt 1893, Date of Arrival: 12 May 1914, Vessel: Canada, Port of Arrival: Quebec, Port of Departure: Liverpool, England, Roll: T-4808

Note: Charles apparently in an attempt to become a Farmer in Alberta states on enlistment that this occupation is a Farmer and not a Postman.


	2^nd Canadian Mounted Rifles	Heavy Section MGC/Tank Corps

WW1

Charles Albert Lieutenant, 12048,117151, 12^th Bn. and 2^nd Bn. Canadian Mounted Rifles, 13^th Company E Bn. Heavy Section MGC/Tank Corps.

Three years of service, with the Worcestershire Yeomanry prior to the war.

Synopsis

The war for Charles was a life-changing event, changing no doubt his thoughts about his future when he emigrated in 1914 to Canada to become a Farmer. Instead, he was within a year to become a Canadian soldier landing in France, then an officer and tank commander in the British Army. Wounded three times during the war, his first being at Cambrai. Upon release from the hospital in 1918, he found a role commanding Armoured Cars that would take him through the war and into the service of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the Irish troubles of 1920-21. In 1923 he married Elizabeth Walters and settled down in Birmingham. When WW2 broke out he was 46 and too old to volunteer initially but in 1943 he found an opportunity to join the RAF and serve in what was probably some RAF Camp role such as guard/policing duties.

1915

4^th Jan. Joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force 12^th Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR) in Calgary, Alberta .¹
9^th Oct. Embarked from Montreal aboard Missanabie for Europe. ¹
18^th Oct. Arrived in Devonport, England. On arrival, all of the units in the 12th MR were dispersed to other units and Charles was transferred to the 2^nd Bn. CMR with a new Regiment Number 117151. 2^nd Bn. strength: 27 officers, 541 other ranks.¹

1916

21^st Jan. Taken on strength and landed in France with 2^nd CMR which was part of the 8^th Infantry Brigade.
Feb – 18^th Mar. The front line at Bourse Farm north East of Bailleul.
19^th Mar-4^th Apr. Mostly in Zillebeke area, Halfway House and map ref I21.
5^th – 20^th Apr. Entrained to Vlamertinghe and then in Camps D and F until the 20^th.
21^st-30^th Apr. Marched to front line at Sanctuary Wood, casualties, gas and HE bombardment. Relieved 31^st Apr.
Sanctuary Wood map showing trench system
May. In Zillebeke area camps for the month.
2^nd -3^th Jun. The Battle of Mount Sorrel,
- 2^nd Jun. In action Sanctuary Wood and Maple Copse. Forced to retire to supply trench until relieved on 3^rd Jun. Heavy casualties 276.
26^th Jun. Hospitalised with Tonsillitis at No. 7 Canadian General Hospital Etaples, France.
11^th Jul. Returned to England to Canadian Training Depot Shorncliffe with the purpose of training as a cadet for Commission.
6^th Aug. Transferred to 9^th Reserve Bn. The 9^th Reserve Battalion formed part of the Canadian Training Depot at Tidworth Barracks on the Salisbury Plain.
1^st Dec. Discharged from CEF to take up the position as a 2^nd Lieutenant with British Army Tank Corps.¹
13^th Dec. 2^nd Lieutenant 30^th Reserve Bn. BEF.

1917

In early 1917 attended Bovington Camp in Dorset to be trained as a Tank Commander and on completion of training was placed in E Battalion of the then-named Heavy Section Machine Gun Corps later to be called the Tank Corps. Charles was sent to France in mid-1917. Coincidentally at this time, Frank Blencowe from Gawcott was joining the same ‘E’ battalion in France as presumably a crew member of a tank.
Tank Crew in 1917
25-26^th Jun. Embarked to France from Southampton and landed at Le Havre.
20^th Sept. Third Battle of Ypres. Charles’s first tank battle in which he commanded the Tank ‘Executioner’. Charles Tank named ‘Executioner’ and another tank left Belle Vue at Z minus 2 hours 45 mins. (2.55 am). ‘Executioner’ crossed the Steenbeek at 5.50 after being held up behind another tank which had developed auto vac trouble. It reached Janet Farm (map ref 28NW2 C 12 d 3.4) at about 6.05 am. Whilst attempting to manoeuvre around a ditched tank E6 ditched several times, eventually becoming stuck fast close to four other ditched tanks. Both tanks did not fire their weapons during the action. The battalion had failed to salvage “Executioner” by the 26^th Sept.
The war diary Salvage report describes the failed attempt to salvage Charles’ tank Executioner.
17^th Nov. 13, 14 and 15 Coys. move to Havrincourt Wood. >The Tank Corps to lead Infantry for the first time in a planned attack.^{8</sup >}
19^th Nov. Tanks leave Havrincourt Wood to reach deployment point without mishap.⁸
20^th Nov. Wounded in The Attack on Cambrai. A surprise attack on the German Hindenburg line had been planned and in all some 476 tanks were to be used to smash their way through the town of Cambrai a communications, supply and HQ centre for the German army. The “’E’ Battalion of tanks was attached to the 152^nd Brigade of the Scottish Highland 51^st Division. Charles and his tank were part of the first wave of three waves after a surprise barrage of artillery. ‘Rovers’ (Crusher Tanks ) were designed to crush the wire protecting the enemy front and lead the attack taking out on the way pillboxes, machine guns etc. Charles was a tank commander of the Female MK I tank named “Empire” which was part of the no 13 Company’s 12 tanks His section commander was Captain Hooley and the section consisted of three Tanks.
- Female EMPIRE 2nd Lt Blencowe Fighting tank
- Female EXTINGUISHER II 2nd Lt Llewelyn Fighting tank
- Female EXCLUSIVE II 2nd Lt Hughes Fighting tank Left of line

Note: all tanks have names beginning with E.

21^st Nov. Wounded GSW Shoulder admitted to 5 Casualty Clearing Station at Maubeuge then onto No 2 BR Rouen.
23^rd Nov. Invalided back to England on Hospital Ship Essequibo.

Knocked out E Bn tanks Cambrai — Tanks from Charles’s battalion captured by German forces after being “knocked out” and abandoned on the battlefield of Cambrai

The account of the action from Landships Narratives

‘Escapade’ broke down in Havrincourt wood and wasn’t repaired until 5 pm.

The remaining eleven tanks all attacked at the appointed time.

Extinguisher II and Eradicator II may have been wire-crushing tanks as both broke down in the German front line; the narrative indicates the two tanks which broke down in the German front line were disabled due to wire damage, this is more probable on wire-crushing tanks. The third wire crusher may have been 2nd Lt, Clifford’s tank (possibly 4507) which turned back and rallied after reaching the Blue Line, it may have returned to collect its supply sledge before rallying. A fourth tank, Emblem also broke down in the blue line.

The remaining seven tanks, probably joined by several tanks from 14 Company, must have rallied on the Blue line at 9.00 am and then attacked towards Flesquires ridge when the barrage lifted at 9.30 am.

Part of the company appears to have baulked at passing through the woodland to the right of Flesquires village, these tanks moved to the right and thus crossed the ridge crest line astern. As each topped the rise they were hit by the field guns that had survived the artillery bombardment. Earwig was hit and burnt out, Exclusive II was hit and knocked out. Eyewitness and Empire were both hit but rallied.

So in summary Charles’s tank was hit but rallied and while not destroyed its possible injuries were incurred by Charles and or his crew. The only tanks from the 13^th Company to fight on the 23^rd were Escapade, Eclipse II, Explorer, Exterminator and Eradicator II.

1918

After recovering from his Cambrai wounds Charles appears to have been transferred to another battalion after changes to the entire Machine Gun Corps were taking place. Charles was placed with the 17^th Armoured battalion HB Machine Gun Corps. In March 1918 the 17^th Tank Battalion was in process of formation at the Tank Training Centre at Wool, when the German spring offensive resulted in so great a demand being made on the home resources that it was converted into an Armoured Car Battalion on the 23^rd of April. Charles appears to have transferred to the 17^th Armoured Car Battalion before returning to the war front. On the following day the drivers were selected, and sixteen armoured cars, which were earmarked for the eastern theatre of war, were handed over to it, the Vickers machine guns being replaced by Hotchkiss ones.

27-29^th Apr. Embarked Folkestone for Boulogne. On April 28 the cars were embarked at Portsmouth, and on the 29^th the personnel, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel E. J. Carter, left Folkestone for Boulogne. Thus in six days the whole battalion was formed, equipped, and landed in France. Immediately on landing the 17^th Battalion was attached to the Second Army and ordered to proceed to Poperinghe, but the tactical situation improving these orders were cancelled and it was first sent to the Tank Gunnery School at Merhmont . for instruction, and later on to the Tank Depot at Mers. . ⁵
The 17th bn. Armoured Cars
May. La Hussoye. . After some ten days’ training, the 17^th Battalion joined the Fourth Army and went into the line at La Hussoye, being attached to the Australian Corps. A few days later the battalion was transferred to the XXIInd Corps, which was then resting in G.H.Q. reserve, immediately behind the right flank of the British Army, and battalion headquarters were established at Pissy. At Pissy training continued until June 10, when at 9.30 a.m. instructions were received by Lieutenant Colonel Carter to report to the headquarters of the First French Army at Conty. ⁵
11^th Jun. Belloy. . . Proceeded to Ravenel near St. Just and went into action with the Tenth French Army in its counter-attack at Belloy on that day. In this battle, two sections of armoured cars engaged the enemy with machine-gun fire, but the quantity of debris scattered on the roads, and the fragile nature of the chassis of the cars, prevented the cars from being freely used. At the conclusion of these operations, the battalion returned to the XXlI Corps.</em⁵
12th Jul. London Gazette made Temp Lieut.
8^th Aug. Wounded-Amiens. Attached to Australian Corps HQ the 17^th Armoured Car Bn. was placed under the orders of the 5^th Tank Brigade and planned to use as forwarding reconnaissance. In the morning the Bn. moved forward ….they made for the valley near Foucaucourt, where the HQ troops of a German Corps were known to be encamped. These troops were completely surprised and many casualties were inflicted on them by six cars moving through the valley. The confusion caused soon developed into a panic, the enemy scattering in all directions, spreading the alarm. several sections of armoured cars turned south and north off the Amiens-Brie road. The former met large columns of transport and mounted officers and teams of horses apparently belonging to the German headquarters at Framerville. These were fired on at short range, four officers being shot down by a single burst of fire. Shortly after this, the German headquarters were reached, and the Australian Corps flag, which had been carried in one of the cars for the purpose, was run up over the house which, until a few minutes before, had been occupied by the German Corps Commander. Although more than half the cars were out of action by the evening of the 8th there were no casualties amongst their personnel sufficiently serious to require evacuation.⁵ Charles we presume was slightly wounded as he appears again one month later to be wounded again this time far more seriously.
21^st Aug. after a complete reshuffling of Tank Brigades, the 17th Armoured Cars Battalion was placed in the Third Army area in the Ist Tank Brigade.⁵
24^th Aug. Bapaume. The battalion operated with the New Zealand Division in the attack on Bapaume, the cars penetrating to the Arras-Bapaume road, where severe fighting took place.⁵
2^nd Sept. Wounded in the assault on the Drocourt- Queant line. The 17^th Battalion operated with the Canadian Corps and in this action, four cars were hit by shell fire, but two squadrons of aeroplanes cooperating with the cars attacked the German battery so vigorously that the crews of the disabled cars were able to escape being captured.^5,6
2^nd Sept 10^th Field Ambulance GSW right leg and foot then onto 7^th Casualty Clearing Station.
4^th Sept. Admitted 14^th General Hospital and then onto England on the 6th Sept.

1919

The 17^th Bn. Armoured Car moved to Ireland, where the battalion had Austin (and later Peerless) armoured cars as well as some Whippet medium tanks and the rhomboid Mark V and Mark V* normally associated with WW1.

A number of Whippet tanks from the 17^th (AC) Battalion took part in the Victory Parade in Dublin, on 19th July 1919.

The 17th (Armoured Car) Battalion of the Tank Corps served in Marlborough Barracks, Dublin during the Tan War/War of Independence.

Charles from this experience must have gotten his post-war next role with the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1921-22.

1920.

The medal card indicates Charles’s service ended on 11 June 1920. and that he was returning to his parents home at Coventry St. Kidderminster.

Sources

Canada Collections-Archives Canada.
Landships Narratives – British Tank actions of the First World War. Rob Martin.
First Tank Crews: Stephen Pope.
Long Long Trail – Tanks.
Tanks In The Great War 1914-1918 by Brevet-Colonel J. F. C. FULLER, D.S.O.
Nicholson Official History of Canadian Expeditionary Force.
The Australian Victories in France in 1918 Author: Sir John Monas.
‘E’ (5th) Bn. Tank Corps Diary. Appendix.

Medals

Awarded the British and Victory medals, wounded at Cambrai, Amiens and Drocourt- Queant would have been entitled to wear three wound stripes on the left arm of his uniform.

After the War

In June 1920 Charles is discharged from the Royal Tank Corps and it seems very quickly was employed as a Works Manager at Watson & Meller in Leicester unfortunately in less than a year he is unemployed as the great depression caused so many businesses to let employees go.

1921 Census (June 1921)

Wirral Chesire visiting with Fiance Elizabeth Walters (possibly a relative of hers).

Arthur Louis	Beams	Head	Male	1888	32	Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England	Officer Of Customs & Excise	Commissioners Of Customs & Excise
Maude Veronica	Beams	Wife	Female	1888	33	Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England	Home Duties	–
Richard Lawrence	Beams	Son	Male	1918	3	Wallasey, Cheshire, England	–	–
Mary Elizabeth	Beams	Daughter	Female	1921	–	Cheshire, England	–	–
Dorothy Lilian	Chumbley	Visitor	Female	1900	21	Stourport, Worcestershire, England	Home Duties	–
Elizabeth	Walters	Visitor	Female	1891	29	Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England	Shorthand Typist	Thomas Vale Sons Ltd Gas Works Stourport Contractors
Charles Albert	Blencowe	Visitor	Male	1893	28	Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England	Works Manager Motor Plough Factory	Watson & Meller Out Of Work Leicester
Margaret Ann	Davies	Boarder	Female	1907	13	Coventry, Warwickshire, England	–	–

1921-22

8^th Nov. 1921 Accepted in England. Joined Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary (ADRIC) with service no 2163. Posted to N Coy.
Jan. 1922 the ADRIC was wound up. Men usually joined because of the money.

1923

Married Elizabeth Walters and had two sons Robert and Patrick both born in Birmingham. He appears to have lived the rest of his life in Birmingham dying there in 1961.

1924

Charles and Elizabeth living at 16 Edgbaston Rd, Basall Heath, Birmingham

1930-31

Charles and Elizabeth living at 274 Alcester Rd, Birmingham

1939 Census

Son Patrick a patient at Erdington House, Birmingham.

Son Robert at School in Cheadle Staffs.

WW2

Blencowe Charles Albert, Officer/NCO?, 1884393, RAFVR

1943

Charles at age 50 volunteers to join the RAF and he is sent initially to Cardington in Bedfordshire for induction. While we have only an RAF card record with his name and number we can be reasonably sure this is him. An extensive search of Charles Albert Blencowes old enough to serve in 1943 produced only one candidate.

It is speculated that Charles’s experience in the military and more pertinently service in the 1920s RUC would have made him an ideal for the RAF Police duties where security and secrecy about base installation and facilities would be of paramount importance.