Thomas James (MIKe) Blencowe  [2208]

Known as Mike

1896-1959

Father Nm: Thomas Blencowe [9798] born 18.6.1875 New York died 2.6.1922 Erwin Steuben NY

Mother Nm:     Rozilla B. (Rouse) [9799] Hogancamp 1876–1962
BIRTH 17 DEC 1876 • New York. DEATH 30 APR 1962 • Bath, Steuben, New York, USA

Marriage Dt:  21 Apr 1919 to Margaret Mae Huggins.

 

K comments: Son Basil Lyle served with the US Army in WW2.

Spouse comments: Margaret May Huggins. BIRTH 06 JUL 1896 • Presho, Steuben, New York, USA. DEATH 07 SEPT 1938 • Corning, Steuben County, New York, USA

Children: Basil Lyle Blencowe 1921-1984, Betty Jean Blencowe (Dean) 1924-1945.

Birth 29 April 1896 Erwin Steuben, NY

Thomas James Blencowe (Thomas) was born about 1896 in Erwin town, Steuben, New York. 

1900 Census Steuben, New York

1. Thomas Blincowe 25
2. Rosilla Blincowe 23
3. Thomas Blincowe 4
4. Mary A Blincowe 1

1910 Census Steuben, New York

1. Tom Blencowe 35
2. May Blencowe 33
3. Thomas J Blencowe 13
4. Mary A Blencowe 11
5. Flossie M Blencowe 9
6. Harold Blencowe 7
7. John Blencowe Sr. 65

1915 NY State Census with family Mulholland Rd Erwin Township

1. Tom J Blencowe 19 farm worker.

 

84th Infantry Division Arm Patch	Uniform of an 84th Div. Man

WW1

Blencowe Thomas James Michael, 1980798, Sergeant, 336^th Infantry, 84th Infantry Division.

1917

• 5^th Jun. Drafted 5^th June 1917 Occupation: Glass Worker at Corning Glassworks
• 8^th Jul. Enlisted at Columbus Barracks, Ohio posted to 10^th Infantry, Coy L of the New York National Guard.
• 5^th Sept. It would seem that Mike transferred to the Coy A, 336^th Infantry of the 84^th Division on this date.
• 7^th Sept. Promoted to a Sergeant. Mike part of the 336^th Infantry, 168^th Infantry Brigade, 84th Infantry Division.
  

1918

• 3^rd Sept. The advanced contingent of the 84^th Division embarked from New York on SS Ajax and landed in Liverpool on the 3^rd Sept. Between 1-4^th Sept. The infantry, except Hq 168^th Inf Brig, two battalions of the 336^th Inf, and the 326^th MG Bn., sail, and arrive, Sept 9-16^th, at Liverpool. Name: Thomas J Blencome
  Departure Date: 3 Sep 1918
  Departure Place: Brooklyn, New York
  Residence Place: Painted Post, N Y
  Father: Thomas Blencome
  Ship: Ajax
  Military Unit: 336th Inf
  Rank: First Sergeant
  Service Number: 1980798
  Notes: Company A 336th Infantry
• 25^th Sept. Landed Le Havre France.

  

• 336^th Infantry Coy A a labour battalion who were based at Base Section No. 6 Marseille.
• 3^rd Oct. The Division is ordered to be skeletonised and thus reduced in numbers.
• 3^rd Nov. The 309^th F Sig Bn. leaves for the Signal Corps Replacement Depot at Cour-Cheverny. Nov 5, DHQ, 167^th and 168^th Inf Brigs, 325^th MG Bn., 308^th Tn Hq and MP move to Le Mans Area where they are further skeletonised.
• Nov. It is recorded in an army newsreel that “Troops of the 811^th Pioneer Inf. and the 336^th Labor Bn. unloaded sugar, trucks, and rails from the freighters “

1919

An Army newsreel capture the 336^th Infantry leaving Base Section No. 2 Bordeaux and embarking for home in 1919 on the transport Powhatan.

• 6 January  Thomas J. Blencowe departed Bordeaux on Ship Wilhelmina
  Residence Place: Painted Post N.Y.
  Father: Thomas Blencowe
  Military Unit: 336TH INF. 84TH. DIV. RECORD CADRE
  Rank: 1ST. SGT.
  Service Number: 1980798
• 9^th Feb. Honourable discharge.

 

Corning Evening Leader

Letter from an old war buddy to Corning Evening Leader on 20^th Mar 1941 confirming that Mike was a Sergeant in the 84^th Division. This division was created in 1917 and was sent to France in Oct 1918. It was deployed to France in October 1918 to serve as a training formation for replacements which would be sent to the Western Front. At the war’s end, the formation was recalled home and, without having seen combat actions, inactivated in

Sources

1. Order of battle of the United States land forces in the World War American Expeditionary Forces divisions Vol. 2 Center Of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C., 1988
2. Ancestry.com family tree
3. New York, Abstracts of World War I Military Service, 1917-1919 for Thomas J Blencowe

Medals

Mike was awarded the Victory medal with France Clasp plus New York State Service Medal.

After the War

1925 State Census Clendena Rd Lindley Steuben NY

1. Thomas J Blencowe 29 Farmer
2. Margaret M Blencowe 28
3. Basil L Blencowe 03
4. Betty J Blencowe 01

1930 Census Steuben, New York

1. Thomas Blencowe 35 Glass Worker
2. Flossie Blencowe 24

Note states Yes to Q, Have you served in the Military and WW1 indicated

1940 Census Painted Post, Steuben, New York

1. Thomas Blencowe 43 Glass Presser. Note Children Basil and Betty living separately in 1940 census with a Harry English.

Death 1959 age 63 years

Social Security Death Index about Thomas Blencowe, SSN: 076-05-5192

Born: 29 Apr 1896, Died: Apr 1959

BURIAL

Townsend-Erwin Cemetery
Erwin, Steuben County, New York, USA
MEMORIAL ID 22224047