Blencowe Joe 1883

Joe Blencowe [4152]

1883-1969

Born out of wedlock, John Alderman likely his father.

Father Nm: John Alderman 1856: Oldest known Blencowe Ancestor – James Blencowe 1781 Northampton.

Mother Nm: Harriet Jane Blencow [1972] c 25.11.1860 Northampton of Upper Heyford : oldest Known Ancestor James Blencowe C1781 Upper Heyford.

Marriage Dt: 5 June 1911, Marriage Place: Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire, England to Florence E Barker Northampton 3b 110.

Joe Blencowe Family Tree — click to enlarge

K comments WW2: Daughters Helen Elizabeth served with WAAF and Kathleen May was with WAAF then a Junior Commander with the ATS. Son George William (also a Stone Mason) was a Lieut. in RASC. Son Francis Joe served with the Royal Artillery.

Spouse comments: Florence Emily Barker 1885-1964.

Children: George William 1911. Sydney J 1913, Florence Hilda 1915, Francis Joe 1917, Kathleen May 1920, Helen Elizabeth 1922, Irene Emily 1924, Alan Walter 1925.

Birth 1883

16 November 1883 Upper Heyford, Northampton 3b 98.

Upper Heyford and Lower (Nether) Heyford is 6 miles west of Northampton

1891 Census

Living with his grandfather George in Upper Heyford. Harriet and her husband John Alderman [marr 1868]. A stone mason, he lived in 5 Council Houses, Heyford.

1901 Census Upper Heyford

George Blencowe 67
John Alderman 41
Harriett Alderman 39
Joe Blencowe 17 Stone Mason

1911 Census Northampton Northamptonshire

Blencowe George Head M 1833 78
Blencowe Joe Grand Son M 1884 27 Stone Mason


Royal Field Artillery

WW1

Blencowe Joe, 1883, Northampton, Gunner, 154784, Royal Field Artillery

1916

The medal card, medal roll, and serial number are all we have to go on regarding Joe’s war experience.

Joe a married man with children was likely conscripted after the 2^nd Mar. 1916 Military Service Act. From serial numbers, we can estimate enlistment as 1916. Note A child Francis J. born in the first quarter of 1917 probably puts Joe at home until at least mid-1916.

Joe and Florence had a child frequently (9 in total) but a gap between 1917-1920 suggests he was likely overseas in that period 1917-1919.

Some indication of the time frame for his enlistment can be obtained from his serial number 154784 as they were issued consecutively, The Medal card and roll provide the number;

SN 154597 (Abbs) Enlisted 8^th Aug. 1916

SN 154776 (Dyer) Enlisted 15^th Apr 1916

1917-1919

The Ordnance QF 13-pounder quick-firing field gun was the standard equipment of the British Royal Horse Artillery at the outbreak of World War I. The gun replaced with 18 Pounders from 1915 onwards. Photo courtesy of New York Tribune.

Without Newspaperor Army records, or family artifacts it’s not possible to identify Joe’s RFA Brigade, there were some 355 Brigades of Artillery used in the war. Joe is a 1916 recruit who would have been assigned into a ‘New Army’ brigade which in turn would have been attached to a Division of the Army. Joe’s Brigade of RFA would have been under the command of one of General Kitchener’s new army divisions. this would have been a defensive and offensive artillery role in France and Flanders until 1918 when the role of the artillery changed as the allied forces moved to a more mobile and flexible attacking force. In the last period of the war, the artillery moved rapidly from location to location supporting the breaking of the Hindenburg Line and the penetration into France towards Germany.

235th Brigade (47th Divisional Artillery) watering their horses in captured Flesquieres, 24 November 1917. Imperial War Museum image Q6320.

Joe was a Gunner and was a member of a small team led by a Bombardier that manned a gun. His role was to help maintain the gun, move it from location to location, and of course fire it.

A gun team with the Bombardier to far left

Medal Card

The British and Victory medals awarded.

After the War

Children born George W. 1911, Sydney J 1913, Joe F 1917, Kathleen May 1920,, Helen Elizabeth 1922, Irene E. 1924, Alan Walter 1925 all in Northampton.