John Blencowe [7107]

KIA on 24 Oct 1914

1883-1914

Known as Jack.

Father Nm: William Blencowe 1851-1927 {788] : Oldest known ancestor – John Blinco 1660 Whilton.

Mother Nm: Anne Sullivan 1856-1905.

Marriage Dt:

Kin comments: A long line of military history in the family Great Grandfather William [1998] 1797-1883 was a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo. Father William [ 788] was in the 64th Regiment (2^nd Staffs) from before 1883 until 1889. Brother Ernest G P. served with the Lancers but was discharged sick in 1910 and died that year. Brother William Joseph served with the Royal Horse Artillery. Brother Frederick (Frank) James served with the Lancers and the Tank Corps.

Spouse comments:

Children:

(Research): DCB Birth registered at 64^th Regiment, Limerick vol 998 p 62 1883 1891 Census [Ponting].

At 1891 Census with family in Norton.

1. William Blencowe 40 General labourer
2. Ann Blencowe 35
3. John Blencowe 7
4. William J Blencowe 5
5. Ernest G Blencowe 3
6. Mary F Blencowe 1/12
7. Eliza Jones 70

1901 Census Servant Norton

1. John Blencowe, Age: 17, Estimated birth year: abt 1884, Relation: Servant, Where born: Ireland

1911 Census in Armed Forces Overseas

• John Blencoe unm 28 born Limerick Ireland in Floriana Barracks Malta with 2nd Northants Regt

Northampton Regiment

WW1

Blencowe John, 1883, Limerick, Ireland, Private, 7780, B Coy. 1^st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment

Pre-war

1905

Enlisted in Army Oct, Nov 1905 based on Regimental Number at death but likely had two numbers the first would have been late 2000’s. It was normal to sign up for 6 or 12 years and discharged only allowed on buying yourself out so without records we must presume John stayed with the same battalion until 1914 until the outbreak of war

The 1st Battalion was in the Punjab 1907 -1908, then Aden returning to England in time for 1911 census however the 2nd Bn Northants were sent to Malta Jan 1911 and some 1st Bn men including John may have been transferred to the 2nd to make up the numbers.

WW1

1914

• 13^th Aug. Embarked for France with the 1st Bn. the Battalion part of the 2nd Brigade 1st Division under General Haig was the first regular army and known as the “old contemptible’s”.
• 23^rd Aug. The Battle of Mons. The first encounter between German and British troops. The British forces outnumbered 2:1 were able to hold their ground to the German attack but it was decided to retreat given the numbers
• 26^th Aug. Battle of Le Cateau. The First Army then fought a rearguard action during their withdrawal at Le Cateau.
• 5^th -9^th Sept. The Battle of the Marne. From 5^th to 8^th September the French Armies and British First Army carried out counter-attacks against the German advance on a line of approximately 100 miles from Compiègne east of Paris to Verdun. William Aldridge, a private in the 1^st Bn. Northamptonshire Regiment was one of the first casualties killed at age 27 on October 10^th 1914 on the Marne, east of Paris.
• 12^th– 15^th Sept The Battle of the Aisne. The Germans were strongly entrenched in a sugar factory near the Chemin des Dames ridge, north-west of the village of Troyon, and at the cross roads nearby. 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division with two batteries was ordered to take these positions
  • 14 Sep. At around 3am on the 14th September, in heavy rain and mist, the battalions of 2nd Brigade attacked the German positions on the high ground to the north of Troyon, but without the support of the guns, which did not arrive in time. Several parties of German troops tried to surrender but were fired on by their own side and consequently by British troops as well. Two German batteries were abandoned by their gun crews, leaving the guns unattended in the middle of the struggle.

• 

• 24^th Oct. The First Battle of Ypres. Killed in action near Pilckem.

  

  Jack as part of the 2^nd Brigade, 1^st Division was killed most likely by shelling while waiting for the relief of his Division. This was a preliminary to a counter-attack by the Allies at Polygon Wood. The International Red Cross received a letter from Jack’s father on the 23^rd Sept 1915, but it seems at that time a “negatif envoye” response was given ie his whereabouts and status could not be confirmed.

  

1919

In 1919 the Government began distributing a Memorial Plaque and Scroll to relatives of the deceased. The relative named as the “next of kin” in a serviceman’s Service Record was sent a form to complete as a statement to confirm all the living next of kin of that serviceman and the person to whom the plaque and scroll should be sent. In Jacks case, we do not know who the plaque form was sent to and if indeed they applied to received the memorial pieces.

Sources

1. The Great War Forum. Having compiled the 1911 Census schedules of the 2nd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment … The battalion embarked to Malta in February 1911 and stayed there until the outbreak of war returning in September/October 1914 to join 8th Division. Its sister battalion, the 1st Battalion had been in India from 1892 to 1914 and scooped up the Reservists when it was mobilised in August 1914 many of whom are the older men (mid- to late-20s) on this census.
2. Military Operations France and Flanders 1914 by Brigadier-General J. E. Edmonds
3. Photographs supplied by David Blencowe a great-nephew of John. Another great-nephew Aidan Piper wrote this “Yes John Blencowe was my Grandfathers brother and from the village of Norton. He was killed on 20th October 1914 and along with the other 15 men from Norton who also lost their lives in the Great War to commemorate the deaths the village will hold a short informal ceremony on the centenary of each death. The first of these was for John Blencowe (known as Jack) on Friday 24th October when he was remembered by the tolling of the Church bell in Norton and placing a cross and a copy of a photograph of John at the village War Memorial in addition to flying the Union Flag.”
4. Military Researcher Tim Kirby wrote Military research of William Blencowe and descendants which was very useful in dating the military history of John and his father.
5. British battles

Medals

1914 ‘Mons” Star with Clasp, British, Victory medals and the rosette and clasp. The rosette to be worn on ribbon bar when the medal not worn.

Burial

Cemetery Perth Cemetery (China Wall) is located 3Kms east of Leper town centre, on the Maaldestedestraat, Grave Reference XII. C. 3.

November 2014 from the Daventry Express.

Norton residents commemorated the 100th anniversary of the deaths of Second Lieutenant John Litchfield and Private John Blencowe, who were among the first Allied soldiers to be killed in World War One on October 22 and 24, 1914.

Villagers and members of both men’s families held a short service on both days at the village war memorial, followed by the tolling of the church bell for two minutes. The great-nephew of 2Lt Litchfield planted a cross (bottom picture), while a large number of Pte Blencowe’s relatives attended along with a bugler and Royal British Legion standard bearer (top). The events were organised by the Norton History Society. They will be marking the 100th anniversary of every named man.

GALLERY

Note: there is 1 record that exists for this man that is not shown in the Gallery for copyright reasons.