Blenko Thomas R 1899

Thomas Richard Blenko [4607]

1899-1970

Father Nm: Edward Henry Blenko [3828] born 22 Sep 1864 Bethnal Green- d 22 Oct 1946 Hackney: Oldest known ancestor – Huett Blencowe, C1720, Wolverton.

Mother Nm: Mary Ann E Pratt, b. 1877 d. 24 Sep 1943

Marriage Dt: 1933 Hackney Volume 1B Page 841.

K comments:

: WW1: Brother Edward Henry was killed in action 16 Aug 1917.

WW2: Brother James Alfred followed his dead brother into the Royal Fusiliers and was wounded and captured in Italy in 1943

Spouse comments: Ethel Rounce 1901-1996.

Children:

(Research): GR[B] Hackney March 1899 GR[D] Hackney vol 5b p 1590 March 1970.

Baptism Date: 16 Feb 1899

Father’s Name: Edward Henry Blenks, Mother’s Name: Mary Ann Ellen Blenks

Parish or Poor Law Union: South Hackney Christ Church

1901 CENSUS 13 VICTORIA GROVE, S HACKNEY

Edward H Blenko 36 Capstan Man Rlwy Man
Mary A E Blenko 24
Edward H Blenko 3
Thomas R Blenko 2
Mary Blenko 4 Months

1911 CENSUS 13 VICTORIA GROVE, S HACKNEY

Blenko Edward Capstan Railway Man 46
Blenko Edward H 13
Blenko Eliza 5
Blenko Ellen 9 Months
Blenko Emma 8
Blenko Harry 6
Blenko Mary 10
Blenko Mary Mother 85
Blenko Mary Ann 34
Blenko Thomas R 12
Blenko Walter H 2
Blenko William A 9


East Kent Regiment	Royal Fusiliers

WW1

Blenko Thomas Richard, 1899, Hackney, 23310, GS/76000, East Kent Regiment, 9^th Bn. Royal Fusiliers.

1917

It’s likely Richard attested in 1917 given his serial number of the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs). Note Charles A Byrne GS/76003 enlisted 12^th Mar. 1917.

1918

The Medal Roll sheet shows Richard and several men starting service overseas with the East Kent Regiment in 1918 and almost immediately transferring to the Royal Fusiliers.

20^th Mar. Landed France with The Buffs.
22^ndMar. Transferred to the 9^th Bn. Royal Fusilier’s part of 36^thBrigade of the 12^th (East) Division.
24^th Mar. The Battle of Bapaume.The Division, less its artillery, concentrated in the Busnes area and moved that night by motor lorry to Albert. On the morning of 24^th,the Division arrived in the area of Senlis, Warloy and Bouzincourt, that afternoon, 36^th Bde. moved forward to the line Montauban–Bazentin le Grand, on the old 1916 Somme battlefield. But events were moving fast as the enemy’s offensive pressed forward. The 36^th Bde. had also taken up a position west of the Ancre. There were no prepared trenches or wire defences and so natural lines, such as the railway embankment north of Albert, were taken up to await the expected German attack. ¹
26-28^th Mar. The First Battle of Arras 1918.
Line advanced to 24th March and the retreat to the Battle of 27/28th March
- From the hollow, where the 9^th Battalion lay, the enemy was not seen until midday, when they were observed advancing over the high ground east of the river. During the night the Germans made a determined attempt to cross the Ancre but were driven off by Lewis guns, machine guns and rifles. Farther north the enemy succeeded in forcing his way into Mesnil and the eastern edge of Aveluy Wood. To the south Albert was lost.²
- 27^thMar. Again saw heavy fighting. At 08:00 hrs. the Germans renewed their attempts to force a crossing but were again driven back by the 9^th Royal Fusiliers. The battalion on the right was overwhelmed half an hour later and was closely pursued by the enemy. The 9^th Battalion, with their right in the air, was forced back. A platoon under Captain Beaurains held on until completely surrounded, and then fought their way back to the high ground on the west of the village. D Company attempted to deliver a counter-attack, but the enemy machine-guns fire prevented them from reaching the river. At 17:00 hrs. the Germans resumed their attack from the direction of Albert; and, the right flank being again turned, the battalion fell back to the high ground in front of Martinsart Wood. 40 battalion men were killed on this day.³
- 28^thMar. The right of the 9^th Battalion was once more attacked at 09:00 hrs., but the attack was beaten off with the loss of four men killed.²
5^th Apr. German Spring Offensive. The 9^th Royal Fusiliers were in the line west of Albert near Aveluy Wood attempting to hold back the German attacks. On the morning of the 5^th April 1918, the Germans heavily shelled the British positions. From the war diary.
- 07:00 hrs. Heavy shelling on our left, moving to front and right. Very heavy at Bouzincourt. SOS sent upon our right. C & B Coy responded that the enemy was coming over the ridge in front. Our machine guns and artillery put down a good barrage, riflemen & L-Gunners spread fire. Attack did not develop. Heavy shelling continued until 11:00 hrs..
- 11:45 hrs. Reported that enemy had pierced line of 5^th Bn R. Berks on our right. 3 platoons of D Coy are sent to counter-attack this portion of the line. In the open, they are under heavy MG fire but gain their objectives and go 300 yards beyond the original right flank but are met by a hostile bombing block strongly held by the enemy.
- 13:45 hrs.1 Coy of 7^th R. Sussex arrive to support us and took over the support line.
- 14:00 -16:00 hrs. Continued heavy shelling at Bouzincourt. D Coy unable to reach 5^th R.Brks on their right.
- 22:00 hrs. 2 Coys of 7^th R. Sussex attached to 5^th R Berks counter-attack but due to heavy MG fire fail to reestablish the line.23:00 hrs. 7^th R. Sussex relieves the 5^th Berks and 1 Coy of 7^th R. Sussex take over from us the 300 yards of recaptured trench. Casualties: 7 Officers. 93 O.R. Of these 21 died.³
8^th Aug. The Battle of Amiens. The 9^th Royal Fusiliers were loaned with their brigade to the 18^th Division to take the place of the 54^th Brigade.²
- The 9^th Battalion had to attack without tanks assisting. The enemy expected a counter-attack and the element of surprise was unfortunately lacking.²
- Zero was at 04.20 hrs., and the barrage fell ten minutes earlier. At this moment the men could see only about ten yards ahead owing to the mist. Yet in these conditions A and B Companies promptly gained the first objective, and D and C passed through to the second battalion objective.²
- But a prompt German counter-attack drove them back, and in the afternoon the 9^th Battalion found that they were holding the front line. In this position, the battalion consolidated. They had lost 6 officers and 350 other ranks; but they had captured 300 prisoners, 30 machine guns, and 8 trench mortars.² Casualties 56 battalion men killed.³
22^ndAug. The Crossing of the Ancre. Thomas is wounded? The 12^th Div. attacked, pushing right across the wilderness of the old Somme battlefield, capturing Meaulte, Mametz, Carnoy, Hardecourt and Faviere Wood, which was reached after a week’s continuous fighting. The Division had made an advance of another 15000 yards.¹In this attack the 9^th Royal Fusiliers went forward on a front of 1,000 yards to a depth of 2,500 yards, keeping pace on their left with the 5th Royal Berks, who captured and cleared up Meaulte. The 9^th Royal Fusiliers, with an easier task, overcame the resistance in their front readily, and for a total casualty list of 83 (4 officers and 9 OR’s killed) captured 100 prisoners, twelve machine guns and four trench mortars. ² Evidence that Thomas was wounded in this battle non-existent but in this or the Aug 8^thGerman counter-attack there remains a strong possibility this was the case.
24^th Sept. The Medal Roll indicates Thomas’s service overseas with the 9^th Royal Fusiliers ended on this date. Note GS/76000 Charles Byrne also is sent home with GSW wounds to hospital 4 days later (his service records survived )and discharged from England in 1920. From this, we can surmise Thomas was likely wounded and returned to England for treatment.