Arthur John Blincoe [4188]

1885-1933

Father Nm: Joseph Blincow [1263] b 11.7.1843 Dudley c 24.3.1844 St. Thomas Dudley died 11.2.1920: Oldest known ancestor – Henry Blincow 1709 Kings Sutton.

Mother Nm: [4947] born 1851? Bradford died 18.2.1904 Darlaston Staffs

Marriage Dt: 1915 to Ellen Bonehill, Walsall, Staffordshire, Volume Number: 6b, Page Number: 1533.

K comments:

• James Ernest served in the 1/6^th South Staffs Regt.
• Albert Edward died of wounds in 1914 serving with 7th Bn. Staffs Regt.
• Joseph Frederick served with the 96^th Training Reserve Bn. and the 300 RDC Protection Coy.

Spouse comments: Ellen Elizabeth Bonehill. 1886-1970

Children: Elsie Spellman 1905, Dorothy Blincoe 22 OCT 1916 • Stratford,
Warwickshire Death 1976, Arthur John Blincoe 1918-1918, Joseph Ronald Blincoe 1925-1990.

(Research): GR[B] West Bromwich June 1885 Morrison, Updates – Fiona Hacking.

Born 1885

Whitehall Rd. West Bromwich, Staffs

1891 Census 6 Bentley Rd Darlaston Staffs

1. Joseph Blencow 48 Maltster
2. Jane Blencow 40
3. William H Blencow 11
4. Joseph F Blencow 10
5. Albert E Blencow 8
6. Arthur J Blencow 6
7. Jame E Blencow 4
8. Bery Now Blencow 1

1901 Census 3 Bentley Rd Darlaston Staffs

1. Joseph Blencoe 58
2. Jane Blencoe 50
3. William Blencoe 21
4. Frederick Blencoe 20
5. Abba E Blencoe 18
6. Arthur I Blencoe 15
7. James E Blencoe 14
8. Benjamin Blencoe 11

1905

Daughter (Elsie Spellman ) out of wedlock with Eliza Spellman (1886-1970)

1907 joined South Staffs. Regt.

Enlistment was 28^th-29^th April 1907

1911 Census not found

Possibly in Ireland or South Africa with 2nd S. Staffs Regt.

Note as with the rest of the family the Surname gradually changed to Blincoe from Blincow so that Later records reflect Blincoe

South Staffordshire Regiment

Pre War Service

Regimental Number would have been the same pre-war ie 7970 with this information can say enlistment was 28-29 April 1907 (Source: army service numbers.blogspot shows 7971 joined on 29^th April 1907)

1907-1911 a four-year posting in Pretoria, South Africa. The battalion returned to England in 1911.

WW1

Blincoe Arthur John, 1885, West Bromwich, Private-Bandsmen, 7970, 2^nd Bn. South Staffordshire Regiment.

Synopsis

Arthur John Blincoe was a professional soldier who had served in the Army since about 1907 when WW1 broke out. As a consequence of that, he was one of the “Old Contemptibles” a term used by the Kaiser of Germany meant to demean but worn as a badge of honour amongst the British army. Arthur went immediately to the Belgium front line and took part in what was a hard-fought but disastrous British defeat as the small Allied force was overwhelmed by well-prepared German forces. What happened to Arthur after October 1914 and when he married in May 1915 in England is subject to some speculation and this page tries to show the possibilities that had him return for this Marriage. Evidence has recently come to light that suggests Arthur was discharged from the Army in December 1918 suggesting again a couple of possibilities for his service time. We do know he was wounded in the left leg in the war.

1914

• 13^th Aug. Southampton to Le Havre via S.S. Irrawaddy, then on to billets at No. 1 Rest Camp, was one of the first regiments to take part in the war.²

The 2^nd Bn. South Staffs Regt was part of the 6^th Brigade of the 2^nd Division of the BEF and fought with that Division throughout the war. The battle history for the 2^nd South Staffs was similar to the 2^nd Oxford and Bucks above but with the exception the South Staffs were present at the Battle of Mons and the subsequent retreat, including the Affair of Landrecies, the Rearguard affair of Le Grand Fayt and the Rearguard actions of Villers-Cotterets.

• 15/16^th Aug. By train to Wassigny, marched to billets in Iron.²
• 21^stAug. to Landrecies onto Hargnies (22 Aug.)and then Harmignies (23 Aug.)²
• 23^rdAug. The Battle of Mons. No casualties at Mons (although they did come under fire). The retreat began on the 24^th– and marched to Bonnet, Aulnois, Bavai, and Maroilles.Venerolles (26 Aug.), Mont d’Origny (27 Aug.), Amigny (28 Aug.), Ambleny (31 Aug.). Through Villers Cotterets (1 Sept.), Trilbardou (2 Sept.), Bilbarteaux-les-Vannes (3 Sept.), Voisins (4 Sept.), Chaumes (5 Sept.), Westlake notes that according to the Bn. War Diary they had marched 236 miles since the 21^st of August. ²
• 6^th Sept. March to the Aisne – Chateau-de-la-Fontelle (6 Sept.), south of St. Simeon (7 Sept.), La Noue (8 Sept.), crossed the Marne at Charly (9 Sept.).
• 10^th Sept. The Battle of the Marne. Surprised an enemy column south of Hautesvesnes (10 Sept.) 450 prisoners were taken, the South Staffs lost 2 officers wounded and 6 other ranks killed and wounded.¹
• 11^th Sept. The Advance to the Aisne.To Wallee, onto Monthussart Farm (12 Sept.).¹
• 13^th Sept.The Battle of the Aisne. Vieil-Arcy
  • 14^th Sept. Moved forward towards the River Aisne and from the village of Moussy, two companies went into woods and engaged the enemy with casualties.
  • 15^th Sept. Bn. dug in at Moussy and came under intense shell fire.¹ 9 men were killed that day.⁵
  • 16^th Sept. Ordered to Soupir in the evening to support the Guards Bde. From the 16^th of Sept. through the 15^th of Oct. the battalion rotated between the front line and support line around Soupir, they were relieved by the 148^th (French) Regiment on the night of Oct. 15^th and marched to Fismes.
• 17^th Oct. From Fismes by train to Strazelle, marched to Hazebrouck, Godewaersveld (19 Oct.), Ypres (20 Oct.), Wieltje (21 Oct.).

  

• 23^rd – 26^thOct. Pilckem. Battle of Langemarck.On the 23^rd involved in an attack (with 1st Bn. Queen’s) to recover forward trenches, lost 1 officer killed and 3 wounded as well as 40 other ranks killed and wounded. Withdrawn to a position north of Westhoek (24 Oct.). Moved to a line 50 yards in front of the Broodseinde-Becelaere road (26 Oct.).¹
• 27^th-29^th Oct. First Battle of Ypres. Made an attack on the morning of the 27^th and drove the Germans back (but took heavy losses), dug in on the high ground west of Keiberg, and held this line despite counterattacks through the end of the month.¹ 53 men of the Bn. killed in this battle.⁵
• 30^th Oct. “About 6 a.m. on October 30^th the Germans opened a violent artillery and rifle fire on the trenches of the 6^th Brigade, following it up half an hour later by a strong attack on the line held by the 2^nd South Stafford’s and King’s Royal Rifles.”On the right of the 2^nd South Stafford’s the enemy advanced right up to the barbed wire, a German Officer being killed whilst engaged in cutting the wire.” This attack was beaten off as was another attack made at 11.30 a.m..¹
• 1^st Nov. Becelaere. An attack was made on Becelaere by the 5^th and 6^th Infantry Brigades, and French troops under General Bernard. At 6.30 a.m., the leading French troops passed through the lines of the 5^th and 6^th Brigades and got into the front trenches. A thick mist covered everything so that artillery assistance could not be given. The situation was difficult, and Divisions were split up, Brigades were seldom complete, having lent Battalions to strengthen various parts of the line. Some Battalions of the 2^nd Division were lent to the 1st and 7^th Divisions. As the mist cleared, the French advanced to the attack but were brought to a standstill by intense German artillery fire. At 4.20 p.m. a German Infantry attack was launched on the line of trenches held by the 2^nd South Stafford’s and the Connaught Rangers, but it was repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy. The South Staffords’ left joined up with the 18^th (French) Division, while on their right were the Connaught Rangers and Highland Light Infantry, in the wooded country in front of Molenhoek, the line being continued by the 3rd and 2nd Coldstream Guards and King’s Liverpool Regiment until it linked up with the 7th Division, who were between Gheluvelt and Hollebeke, in front of Zandvoorde.¹
• 2^nd Nov.At 12.45 a.m., the 2^nd South Staffords reported that the French on their left were being driven back, exposing the Battalion’s left flank. Captain A. F. G. Kilby twice advanced his Company, and after some stiff fighting eventually drove the Germans out of the wood, and the left flank of the Battalion was later restored by French reinforcements. These three companies of the South Staffords held onto their position in the front line in the wood until the 9^th of November.” ¹
• 12^th -14^th Nov. Ypres Salient.

  

  On 12^thNov. Prussian Guards attacked the Bn. causing heavy casualties and the 2^nd South Staffords forced to withdraw.¹ The next day the 2^nd South Staffords moved into trenches relieving the HLI. 23 men were killed in this period.⁵

• 15^th Nov. Billets at Hooge.¹
• 18^th Nov.- 21^st Dec. At rest in Caestre.¹
• 22^nd Dec. The 2^nd South Stafford’s left Caestre in motor buses of the London Omnibus company and drove to Bethune from there they marched to Beuvry on marched to takeover the trenches manned by the 57th Wildes Rifles.

1915

• For the whole of 1915, the 2^nd Bn. was operating in the La Bassee region.
• 2^nd Jan. Le Touret. The 2^nd Bn. moved into line where the conditions were indescribable almost waist-deep in water in many places under these conditions daily relief of companies was a necessity. Sickness was inevitable with over 96 men going sick in January.
• 26^th Jan. Rue de Bois. The Bn. moved 15 km from Le Touret to rue de Bois to take over trenches from KRRC.
• 3^rd Feb. Moved 15 km to the southwest to Givenchy and took over from the Munster Fus. and Gloucester’s.
• 20^th Feb. The Raid at Ducks Bill. It was proposed to take a German trench opposite the “Ducks Bill” with the object of finding out if the enemy was mining up to our front, and if so destroy it. This operation was carried out satisfactorily with 1 Officer killed 1 wounded and 1 OR killed 1 wounded.
• 10^th Mar. Battle of Neuve Chapelle The 6^th Infantry Brigade advanced immediately the Artillery bombardment lifted 3 Coys of the 2^nd Bn. in the right column. At 8.10 am B Coy advanced against trenches in front of “Ducks Bill” just east of Givenchy. No sooner over the parapet came under severe crossfire from enemy machine gun fire. 15 men attacked with the object of capturing a machine gun doing great execution but none returned. 2^nd Lieut. Wood with 12 men got into the German trench on the right but was bombed out. Eventually, the attack ceased and the right columns were ordered to reform. At 1 pm orders were received from Bde HQ that a renewed bombardment and a fresh attack to take place at 2:24 pm. The second attack began but the men mowed down as soon as they surmounted the parapet. At 4 pm the order came to repair the trenches and collect the wounded. The Bn. relieved at midnight. Casualties 4 officers and 24 ORs killed. 1 Officer and 33 OR’s missing and 3 Officers and 74 OR’s wounded.²

Note the “Ducks Bill” attack of 10th March is a distinct possibility for the wounding of Arthur in 1915 for these reasons: Casualties were high from machine-gun fire 74: The timing is such that after evacuation to a hospital in France treatment and then moved to England for further treatment/convalescence would place Arthur back in England in April 1915. This is, of course, one possibility for his return to England.

More detail of the 10th March can be seen in these extracts from A History of the South Staffordshire Regiment (1705-1923.) by James P Jones.

1. 

• 25^th Mar.-15^th May Cuinchy and Bethune. Relieved the 1^st KRRC in the trenches at Cuinchy and from this date until the battle of Festubert on May 15^th the 2^nd Bn. was either on duty in the trenches or training at billets in Bethune. It may well be at this time Arthur was discharged from the Army he had been serving since 1907 at least and his term of service may have expired. Alternatively, he could have been sick or wounded (but no records ie SWB listing).
• 5^th May. Evidence of the combat role Arthur was involved in throughout the war from the Lichfield Mercury Newspaper Sergeant drummer Frederick Bundy, 1^st South Staffs Regt. who was well-known in the Lichfield district, was fatally wounded at Ypres after the first severe engagement at this place. The way he met his death is a stirring instance of bravery that characterises the English soldier. After the above-mentioned severe engagement, a detachment of the Staffords was sent to clear the trenches and to collect the wounded. Several Germans suddenly opened fire on the party, but Bundy said: “Come along, the German bullet is not made to fetch me down”. In company with Bandsmen BLENKOE (2^nd South Staffs.) and Corp. Bellerson, the Staffords dashed at the Germans, but Bundy fell with a bullet through his forehead. It’s clear from the article that this is Arthur even though the name spelt incorrectly. It is also evident that Arthur was frequently involved in action and dangerous work and not just playing in the Bn. band. The CWGC gives the date of Frederick Bundy’s death as 22nd October 1914 and referencing the known activity of the 1^st South Staffs at this time places this incident at the 1^st Battle of Ypres .³
• 26th May. Darlaston. He married Ellen Bonehill and gave his occupation as Electrician, this suggests that after 27th Oct 1914 (when evidence of involvement at battle Ypres exists -see below) Arthur was to return to England either wounded or at the end of his term of engagement as a professional soldier.

Note: In 1907 Arthur was signed up on a term of engagement and as such was obliged to go to Belgium in 1914 with the 2nd Staffs battalion however the term could have expired in 1915 and if that was the case he was entitled to leave the Army. In 1916 conscription was introduced and it’s possible that Arthur was recalled for duty during that year or that he even re-applied to serve voluntarily. Granddaughter Fiona Hacking obtained first child Dorothy Ellen Blincoe’s birth certificate and this was established by November 1916 Arthur was again in the Staffs Regiment as a bandsman.

It should be noted that in 1918 he was discharged from the Army and recorded as having been wounded in the war. This is evidence supplied by Granddaughter Fiona Hacking who provides his 1918 Army pension application. “I can add a small piece of information about my great grandfather Arthur John Blincoe (1885-1933). I managed to unearth his pension application and this confirms he was discharged on 14 December 1918 and his pension commenced the following day. It also notes under Disabilities – “GSW left foot”. His given address was 1 Maple Grove, Leonard Road, Handsworth (the home of his sister Ellen Jane Birch).”

After The War

1921 census

1, Maple Grove, Leonard Road, Handsworth, Staffordshire

Arthur John Blincoe Head 1885 36 West Bromwich, Staffordshire, Electrical Wireman J Lucas Ltd Electrical Engineers
Helen Blincoe Wife 1894 27 Warwickshire, Home Duties
Dorothy Ellen Blincoe Daughter 1916 4 Warwickshire,
Irene Blanche Blincoe Daughter 1919 1 Handsworth, Staffordshire
Arthur Edward Islip Boarder 1892 28 Aston, Warwickshire, England Tram Conductor Birm Car Trams
Phyllis Eva Islip Boarder 1892 28 Colne, Lancashire, England

 

1926 Move to acton for Work?

Grandaughter in August 2022 remarked that she had found evidence of residence, she wrote:” I do not know when they moved to Hammersmith (just that it would be between 1925 and 1931 when the electoral register finds them at the charmingly named 111 Scrubs Lane, Hammersmith!”

It seems very likely Arthur was to move with his job to the Acton area because In 1926 CAV was bought by Joseph Lucas Ltd. and in partnership with Robert Bosch Ltd. it began making fuel injection pumps for the new diesel industry. The CAV factory was at Marple Way, Acton

Death 1933 Acton

26 Alexandria Rd. Bedford Park, Acton, London

Burial 4 Feb 1933
Burial Place: Ealing, Greater London, England
Cemetery: Acton Cemetery

Sources

1. A History of the South Staffordshire Regiment by JP Jones 1923
2. Extractions from Ray Westlake’s “British Battalions in France & Belgium, 1914” (pages188-190).
3. Lichfield Mercury Newspaper.
4. Fiona Hacking Great Granddaughter has provided photographs and detailed information.
5. CWGC records of Casualties.

Medals

Awarded 1914 Mons Star, British and Victory medals.

Clasp and rosette not claimed.

After the War

Daughter Dorothy born in 1916 supports period of service in England.

1920,1922

1 Maple Rd Handsworth

Death 1933 Age 48

Gallery

 

There are 2 records in the National Archives for this man. For copyright reasons, they cannot be re-published.