Ernest Arthur Blencowe  [4179]

1885-1957

Fathers Name: Henry Blencowe 1847 Brackley: Oldest Known Ancestor – Thomas Blencowe abt 1475 Marston St Lawrence.

Mothers Name: Louise Orange 1848.

Marriage:29 Sept 1917 St Barnabas, Rosewater. Pt. A.

Kin Comments: Brother George James served with Royal Fusiliers and Royal West Kents before WW1.  Brother Bertie served with the Royal Canadian Veterinary Corps.

Spouse Comments: Maud M Llewellyn.

Children:

Research Births Mar 1885 Blencowe Ernest Arthur, Greenwich Vol. 1d  P.1062.

1891 Census

1. Age: 4, Residence, Camberwell, London, England.

1901 Census

1. Age: 14, Residence, Camberwell, London, England.

1901 Census

1. Henry Blencowe 54 Painter Brackley
2. Louisa Blencowe 53 Leather Curler Camberwell
3. Florence Blencowe 18 Dresser Deptford
4. Ernest Blencowe 16 Painter Deptford
5. Bertie Blencowe 13 Peckham

1902

• 14^th Nov. Attested with the 4^th Bn. East Surrey Regt. Regt No. 3162. Approval for Edward to join Devonshire Regt. after military training. Home address is given as 6 Pallader Pl. Wyndham Rd Camberwell. Occupation a Printers Labourer at W.H. Smith, Fetter Ln. London. 1902 older brother George is with the Royal West Kents and may have influenced eventual transfer in 1903.

1903

• 7^th Jan. Joined Devons, Regt No. 7258. Gave next of Kin as Brothers John and Sister Florrey address 98 Windmill Lane Deptford. Also next of Kin brother George in Royal West Kent’s? address 2 Fairlawn Terrace Twickenham. Strangely Father Harry Blencowe of 6 Pallader Pl. Wyndham Rd Camberwell struck out and replaced with Not Known (note the family was recorded at this address in 1901).
• 1^st Jun. Transferred to Royal West Kent’s, new Regt no. 7301.

Army Service 1903-1911

• Enlisted 5 Jan 1903 in Devonshire Regt. Signed up for three years with the Colours and 9 years in Reserve.
• Transferred to Royal West Kent Regt. 1 June 1903.
• April 1904 posted to Malta until 12 Nov 1906.
• Dec 1906-Nov 1908 posted to Singapore.
• Dec 1908 – Mar 1909 posted to India the regiment going to Peshawar which at the time was undergoing the North-West Frontier revolt.
• India until 26 Jan 1911.

Army permission on file to emigrate to Australia on 3^rd Nov 1911 this likely to join brother Henry who was in Adelaide. This was Ernest’s stated destination.

1911 Census 55 Hunsdon Rd, New Cross Greenwich London

Blencowe Ernest  Painter-Sign writer 27 (brother to head of Household).

December 1911 Emigrated to Australia

Was released from the British Army in 1911 on conditions and placed on Army reserve.

New South Wales, Australia, Unassisted Immigrant Passenger Lists, 1826-1922 about Ernest Blencowe; Name: Ernest Blencowe, Port of Departure: London, Port of Arrival: Sydney, New South Wales, Voyage Arrival Date: 19 Dec 1911, Vessel Name: Matatua.

	Devonshire Regiment	Royal West Kent Regiment

WW1

Blencowe Ernest Arthur, 1884, Greenwich, Private, 3162, 7258, L/7301, Devonshire Regt. 3^rd Bn. Royal West Kent Regiment.

1914

• 10^th Aug. Mobilised into Australian Forces recalled to return from Australia and served his British Army contracted period until 4 Jan 1916.

1915

• 1^st Jan. Posted to 3^rd (Special Reserve) Bn. Royal West Kents. This unit was based at Chatham Kent.
• 11^th Dec 1915 letter on UK army file of address in Australia, May Terrace, Ottaway, Rosewater, Port Adelaide

1916

• 4^th Jan. Discharged, his service time expired.
• 25^th Jan. Letter to Army on file requesting pay before he leaves the UK
• 27^th Jan. The army-sponsored return trip to Australia SS Orentis departed Tilbury.

Medals

Awarded the British War and Victory medals. The Medal Roll shows both medals awarded but the Medal Index Card shows just BWM.

After the War

Ernest returned to Australia in 1916.

1931

• Widower. His wife Maud Mary dies and his buried at Rockwood General Cemetery.

Death 1957

Ernest died 29.1.1957 in Parramatta  and was buried at  Rockwood General Cemetery NSW. Perhaps buried with wife Maud Mary at Zone C Anglican Section 9 Grave 4202 or close by no evidence for this though.

 

Gallery

Note: there are 38 service records for this man that exist that are not shown in this gallery for copyright reasons. In addition, some Australian Pay file exists for Blencowe Ernest – Service Number – 7301 at http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ (The files contain pay papers for men enlisted from South Australia on active service and may include pay books, ledger cards,
statutory declarations; details of allotments and applications for war Gratuity payments.)