Ernest Archibald Blencowe   [4365]

1891-1931

Father’s Name: Henry Blincowe [1264] born Jun q 1853 Bicester died 4.4.1897 Essex ; Oldest Known Ancestor – Thomas Blencowe, C1475, Marston St Lawrence.

Mother’s Name: Hannah Maria Constant 1857.

Marriage Dt:1920, England & Wales, Marriage Index, 1916-2005, Spouse Surname: Harriet Spicer, Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sept 1920, Registration district: Wellington, Somerset, Volume Number: 6a, Page Number: 2101.

Kin comments: Father was a Gunner in Royal Artillery before WW1. Brother Henry Alexander served with the Royal Engineers, and Father Henry Blencowe 1863 served with Royal Artillery in the 1880s.  Son Archibald Alexander 1924 served in WW2 as a CSM with the Royal Engineers. Niece Emily’s husband Sgt Robert Lee, 61 Anti Tank Bde was KIA at Normandy in 1944.

Spouse: Harriet Spicer 1883.

Children: Archibald Alexander Blencowe 1924.

(Research): GR[B] Rochford Sept 1891, Note: Of a military father, the birth was also recorded as a Royal Artillery baptism registered Shoeburyness Vol 1462/229.

1901 Census 5 Hinguard St. Shoeburyness

1. Hannah Blencowe 43
2. Alexander Blencowe 16 Blacksmith
3. Archibald Blencowe 9

1911 Census 5 Hingnar Street South Shoeburyness, Rochford Essex

1. Blencowe Hannah Head 53
2. Blencowe Ernest (Archibald) Son Plumbers Mate Government Works 19
3. Blencowe Henry Boarder Grocer 48

Royal Garrison Artillery

WW1

Blencowe Ernest Archibald, 1891, Rochford, Bombardier, 50312, 39^th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.

A key piece of information is contained in the Medal Card that is Ernest posted to Western Front 1^st Nov 1915. This information and the Medal Roll confirms one Royal Garrison Artillery unit the 39^th Siege Battery and so we are able to place him with this unit and while he is promoted also shown on the card just one regimental number may indicate this was his unit throughout the war. One other piece of information on the medal card, Ernest was promoted from Gunner to Bombardier during service. The war history below is then for the 39^th Siege battery and may correspond to that of Ernest’s experience. Ernest was promoted from Gunner to Bombardier during service.

1915

• 3^rd Nov. Disembarked Boulogne.
• 5^th Nov. Disembarked guns.
• 6^th -10^th Nov. Left Boulogne on route to Elverdinghe, via Ardres, Tilque, Halebrouck and Poperinghe.
• 13^th-15^th Nov. No. 1 gun arrived Elverdinghe on the 13^th All guns were in position by the 15^th and registered by aerial observation on the 19^th.
• 22^nd Nov 15 – 1^st Dec 15: Registered guns on trenches, Oscar Farm, and Von Spree Farm.

• 

  Notes from an Officer ( Peter Daniel Desbrow) of the 39th Siege Battery tell that what the Battery was up to in Nov -Dec 1915. Peter became an officer and was posted to France on the 1st of November 1915 with the 39th Siege Battery R.G.A. During this time Peters Battery was involved in counter Battery fire, fire missions to destroy trenches and earthworks, and SOS fire. Targets included Mouse Trap Farm, Oscar Farm, Spree Farm, Essen Farm, Plum Farm, Uhlan Farm, Mauser Cottage, Canadian Farm, Pilckem X Roads, Mackensens Farm, Jolie Farm, Stray Farm, Oblong Farm, Racecourse Farm, Kitcheners Wood, Woodlands Farm, The Mound, Van Heule Farm, Hindenburg Farm, Grey Ruin, St Julien Road, High Command Redoubt and various other trenches and targets of opportunity including working parties.

• 1^st Dec 15 – 26^th Jan 16: Remained in these positions and carried out numerous registrations and shoots, observed by FOO or aircraft.

1916

The 39^th Siege battery can definitely be placed at the battle of the Somme in 1916 as part of the XV Corps. The 39^th Guns are photographed at Fricourt-Mametz Valley, near Albert in August 1916. The Artillery battle and bombardment started before the main attack started on 1^st July.

• 26^th Jun. Battle of the Somme.
  Some Divisions fire at a rate of 4-500 shells per gun per day on cutting the wire. ¹
• 27^th -28^th Jun. Thick mist and heavy rain. Siege Howitzers firing all day.² Observation of the fall of shells and the effect they are having is almost impossible due to weather. Raids again bring conflicting reports of damage to wire, condition, and manning of trenches. The last of the gas supplies is released, and the bombardment continues.¹
• When the battle was later analysed, it was realised that despite the apparently colossal build-up of artillery and weight of firepower, it was still insufficient to suppress the defences and destroy the enemy’s ability to defend.¹
• Aug.Fricourt-Mametz Valley.

  

Note at this time the 39th Siege battery would be changed from one brigade (Heavy Artillery Group) to another on a regular basis, often in as short a period as a few days, as the military situation changed. It was only after late 1917 that the situation stabilised and that these batteries were permanently assigned to a particular brigade for the remainder of the war.³ At the end of 1917 however, the 39^th was transferred and permanently part of the 30^th Brigade RGA.

1917

• 1^st Oct. The war diary records that the 39^th Siege Battery on this day, fired nearly three hundred rounds, probably in preparation for an attack scheduled for the 4^th on German positions at Broodseinde. It notes “Gunners Williams E R and Harrison A J burnt through enemy action.”

1918

• 3^rd Dec. Demobilised to Class Z.

Note: Class Z Reserve was authorized by an Army Order. There were fears that Germany would not accept the terms of any peace treaty and therefore the British Government decided it would be wise to be able to quickly recall trained men in the eventuality of the resumption of hostilities. Soldiers who were being demobilised, particularly those who had agreed to serve “for the duration”, were at first posted to Class Z. They returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return if called upon. The Z Reserve was abolished on 31 March 1920.

Sources

1. The British Artillery bombardment before the Somme
2. Somme 1916 Gerald Gliddon
3. Dick Flory at the War Forum

Medals

Awarded 1914-15 Star, British and Victory.

After the War

1921 Census

3 Michael Cottages, Richmond Avenue

Hannah Blencowe Head
Female 1857 63 Bromley, Kent, England Home Duties –
Ernest Blencowe Son
Male 1891 30 Shoeburyness, Essex, England Carriage Cleaner Midland Railway Co
Harriet Blencowe Daughter-in-law
Female 1894 26 Pontesbury, Shropshire, England Home Duties

Ernest Archibald living in Shoeburyness married and had one son. Died at age 40 (in 1931) which is young and Ernest may have died of war-related illness or wounds. He was living at 3 Michaels Cottages Richmond Ave. Shoeburyness.

Death 1931 age 38 years

Rochford Essex, Volume: 4a, Page: 962

Gallery

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