William Blinco [4570]

1897-1965

Father Nm: James Thomas Blincs [1692] c 20.4.1862 Wrexham: Oldest known ancestor William Blincko 1635 Hedgerley.

Mother Nm:

Harriett Chapman [1843] born c 1867 Langley Marish

Marriage 1920, Winterton, Eton Buckinghamshire, Volume Number: 3a Page Number: 2519.

K comments: Brothers

1. Moses Henry Oxford and Bucks LI died of wounds in 1916.
2. Albert Edward served with the RFA and was awarded the Military Medal.
3. James Thomas with the Royal Fusiliers pre war and the RGA.
4. Charles William served with 2nd Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, Army Cyclist Corps.

Cousin Randolph Joseph also served with the 5^th Battalion Royal Fusiliers before the war and then served with the RE’s and RFA.

Spouse comments: Edith May Winterton [7976] born 28 Sept 1899

Children: Dorothy 1921, William James 1924.

(Research):GR[B] Eton Dec 1897 GR[D] Eton vol 6A p 430 Dec 1965.

Baptised on 10 October 1897 in Langley Marish

1901 CENSUS LANGLEY BUCKS

1. Blinco Harriet Wife F 1867 Guildford 34
2. Blinco James T Head Market Gardener M 1862 Langley 39
3. Blinco Albert Son M 1893 Langley 8
4. Blinco Charlie Son M 1897 Langley 4
5. Blinco Lily Dau F 1900 Langley 1
6. Blinco William Son M 1898 Langley 3
7. Blinco James T Son M 1891 Langley 10
8. Blinco Moses Son M 1895 Langley 6

1911 CENSUS ETON BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

1. Blinco Harriet Wife Housekeeper F 1866 Guildford 45
2. Blinco James Head Farm Labourer M 1862 Wexham 49
3. Blinco Albert Son Bread, Biscuit,Cake Maker M 1892 George Green 19
4. Blinco Charlie Son Engaged In-Service M 1896 George Green 15
5. Blinco Lily Dau F 1900 George Green 11
6. Blinco William Son M 1898 George Green 13
7. Blinco James Son Builders Labourer M 1891 George Green 20

Royal Garrison Artillery

WW1

Blinco William, 1897, George Green, Gunner, 120843, 189^th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.

Note: 189th Siege Battery was a “Heavy Artillery Battery ie guns were a large bore. The RGA batteries that had large bore guns were formed into RGA Brigades or otherwise known as Heavy Artillery Groups (HAG) the siege batteries would have been moved into different groupings as the war progressed and Armies moved around them. For those wanting to understand the greater picture of William’s war, the Army Corps that the HAG reported too can be found sometimes here and then related to the WW1 history books.

One thing seems certain the 189 SB was allocated to several HAG during the war two sources of information seemingly at odds with each other.

“In Sept 1917 the 189 Siege Battery was armed with four 9.2 Howitzers and up through 4 Sep, 17 was serving under 69th Heavy Artillery Group. From 5 Sep 1917 to 17 Dec 1917, it was serving under 33rd Heavy Artillery Group.” War Forum member Dick Flory is an RGA researcher.

Roop: According to “Allocations of Siege Batteries. RGA” 189 Siege Battery was attached to 55th HAG until 7 January 1918 and then became Army Troops; This meant they were more freely allocated to different battle situations this being  called “unbrigaded”

The “History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Western Front 1914-18” on page 307 indicates that 189, 312 and 545 Siege Batteries were part of the XIII Heavy Artillery (and not assigned to any HAG) on 11 Oct 18 when the Battle of the Selle began. Page 385 of the same reference indicates that on 11 Nov 18, 189 and 312 Siege Batteries were “Unbrigaded Siege Batteries RGA” in Fourth Army.

1916

• May. Based on reviewing regimental numbers and dates of enlistment in Ancestry it is estimated that William attested in late May 1916 (examples 120732. enlisted 31^st May, 120917 enlisted 6^th Jun )
• 22^nd Jul. William’s father James Blinco asked for an exemption (all other sons in service and needed to help run Market Garden business). This was reported by the Slough, Eton & Windsor Observer, 09^th Sept. 1916. The hearing adjourned the case until William age 19 years.
• 9^th Sept. The exemption hearing reviewed Williams case again ( a sign that war pressure for recruits was great). The exemption was refused. Reported by the Slough, Eton & Windsor Observer.
• Shortly after 22^nd Jul. William would have been mobilised, his medal roll shows that he was with the 189^th Siege Battery. This Siege Battery was formed at Harwich on 13^th July 1916.

  

1917

• In Sept 1917 the 189 Siege Battery was armed with four 9.2 Howitzers and up through 4 Sep, 17 was serving under 69th Heavy Artillery Group. From 5 Sep 1917 to 17 Dec 1917, it was serving under the 33rd Heavy Artillery Group.
• Near Ypres as indicated by death of Brown, W, Gunner, 129732, 189^th SB.
• Nov. Near Bethune as indicated by death of George Ernest Wood, Gunner, 65902, and John Gray Donnithorne, Bombardier 93238, 189^th SB.

  

1918

• July. Near Doullens based on the death of Brearley, Ernest Clement, Gunner, 175416 and James Thomas Knight, Serjeant, 86521, 189^th SB.
• Aug. In the vicinity of Albert based on deaths of Barker, R G Gunner 97210, and Golden, HH, Gunner, 69290, 189^th SB.
• 11^th Oct. The Battle of the Selle. 189 SB was part of the XIII Heavy Artillery. Page 385 of the same reference indicates that on 11 Nov 18, 189 Siege Battery was an “Unbrigaded Siege Battery RGA” in the Fourth Army.

1919

• William survived the war apparently without wounds or sickness (no War Badge) . A presumption is made that his discharge was likely in 1919.

Note William and brother James both served on the Western Front with Siege Batteries for approximately the same time, however, James 277th Battery was subject to 3 times as many deaths in that period, which shows the absolute luck of the draw in terms of the units soldiers were assigned to.

Sources

1. Long Long Trail
2. Dick Flory RGA researcher

Note for more detail on Williams whereabouts in the war see the war diary for the 189th Siege Battery which can be purchased here.

Medals

British and Victory medals awarded indicates overseas service after 1916 in this case

After the War

Death 1965 age 68 years

Eton, Buckinghamshire, Volume: 6a, Page: 430.

Gallery