Blincow William 1886

William Blincow [2954]
1886 -1961

This man is William Blincow born in 1886 although spelt incorrectly by the Army * the occupation of railway employee before being enlisted is a clue to RE Waterways & Railways unit allocation. In addition older brother served from 1905 and other brothers in the Railways.

* an example of a similar misspelling is William Frank Blincow’s 1891 RFA recorded as William Blinco

Father Nm Thomas Blincow [187] born 9.11.1848 Wilton, died 18.9. buried 1.10.1915 Long Buckby: Oldest Known Ancestor – John Blinco 1660 Whilton

Mother Nm: Martha Mary Pittam [698] born 8.1.1851 28 Railway Terrace Rugby died 10.1.1910 Long Buckby

Marriage Dt:27 May 1910 to Charlotte Annie Shirley

K comments:

Brother Alfred served from 1905-1908 and again in 1914 Royal Artillery and RGA. Son Leslie John and daughter Mabel Amelia served with the RAF in WW2.

Spouse comments: Charlotte Annie Shirley 1891-1981

Children: Allan William 1916, Ernest Edgar 1919, Mabel Amelia 1920, Leslie John 1923, Norman Shirley 1926

(Research):GR[B] Daventry March 1887 FAHB 1891 Census* FAHB GR[D] Northampton vol 7 p2450 Dec

1901

18 Mar 1901. Joins London and North  Western Railways.

1901 Census Long Buckby
  1. Blincow Fred Son M 1892 Long Buckby 9
  2. Blincow Alfred Son Saddler Apprentice M 1884 Long Buckby 17
  3. Blincow Lizzie Dau F 1887 Long Buckby 12
  4. Blincow Kate Dau F 1885 Long Buckby 16
  5. Blincow Martha Mary Wife Publican F 1851 Rugby 50
  6. Blincow Thomas Head Publican M 1849 Whilton 52
  7. Blincow William Son Clerk Railways M 1887 Long Buckby 14
  8. Blincow Arthur Son Shoemaker M 1873 Long Buckby 28
  9. Blincow Walter Son Shoemaker M 1875 Long Buckby 26
  10. Blincow Harry Son Finisher Shoemaker M 1881 Long Buckby 20
1911 Census Cotton End Long Buckby Rugby Daventry
  1. Blincow Thomas Head Farmer Own Account M 1849 Whilton 62
  2. Blincow William Son Railway Clerk LMW Railway M 1887 Northampton 24

Royal Engineers cap badge

Royal Engineers
WW1

Blinco(w) William, 1886, Daventry, Sapper, 257284, WR 269577, Royal Engineers

1915
  • In either 1915 or 1916, William enlisted as a Sapper 257284 with the Royal Engineers.
1917
  • Transferred to probably one of the Railway Operations Company of the Royal Engineers in about Jan 1917 (Serial No.WR269592 was allocated Feb 1917).

The Regimental number beginning WR is a prefix is for the Waterways and Railways Bn.’s.

The RE Railway Operations Companies ran trains both normal gauge and narrow gauge on the Western Front.

William a Railway Clerk before the war could have been used in the administrative functions of one of these companies, but there is no guarantee that he wasn’t used as a sapper performing their duties in the field.

The Royal Engineers and the Royal Army Medical Corps men clearing a railway line of wire debris, etc. near Feuchy, April 1917. IWM
The Royal Engineers and the Royal Army Medical Corps men cleared a railway line of wire debris, etc. near Feuchy, April 1917. IWM
Medals

BritishWarMedal-VictoryMedal
Awarded British and Victory medals.

After the War
1921 Census

6, Rockhill Terrace, Long Buckby, Northamptonshire

William Samuel Shirley Head Male 1869 52 Northampton, Northamptonshire, England Laster Boot & Shoe Fredk Cook Ltd, Boot & Shoe Mfrs, Long Buckby, Northants
Charlotte Vears Shirley Wife Female 1862 59 Northampton, Northamptonshire, England Housewife –
Charlotte Annie Blincow Daughter Female 1891 29 Northampton, Northamptonshire, England Housewife –
Walter Edgar Shirley Son Male 1895 26 Northampton, Northamptonshire, England Ledger Clerk British Thomson Houston Co Ltd, Electrical Engineers, Rugby
Ernest Alfred Shirley Son Male 1899 21 Northampton, Northamptonshire, England Ledger Clerk British Thomson Houston Co Ltd, Electrical Engineers
William Blincow Son-in-law, visitor Male 1887 34 Northampton, Northamptonshire, England Railway Clerk L & N W Railway Coy
Alan William Blincow Grandson, visitor Male 1916 4 Northampton, Northamptonshire, England – –
Ernest Edgar Blincow Grandson, visitor Male 1919 2 Northampton, Northamptonshire, England – –
Mabel Amelia Blincow Granddaughter, visitor Female 1920 – Northampton, Northamptonshire, England – –

1939 Census

57 Colwyn Road, Northampton,  Northamptonshire

William Blincow 10 Dec 1886 Male – Married Railway Clerk
Charlotte Blincow 04 Apr 1891 Female – Married
Ernest E A Blincow 14 Feb 1919 Male – Single Clerk Office
Mabel A Blincow 13 Aug 1920 Female – Single ,Railway Office Typist
Leslie J Blincow 25 Jun 1923 Male – Single Railway Clerk
Norman Blincow 24 Jun 1926 Male – Single At School

Death 1961 age 89 years

Northampton

Gallery

There are 3 records in the National Archives for this man. For copyright reasons, they cannot be re-published.

Blinco(w) William 1886 railway records
Records from London and North Western Railways from 1903-1909
Showing William in different clerical roles at Northampton, Wansford, Cambridge stations
RE building a new piece of Railway H08925
France. c. 1918. British Army Royal Engineers building a new railway. (Donor British Official Photograph D360). Australian War Memorial image H08925
image
Heavy lifting wagon of the Narrow Gauge Railway Operations
The narrow gauge was the fastest to lay, uplift and lay again in the movement of the Western Front advances
Royal Engineers operating a steam train on the Somme in March 1918.
The RE Railway Operations Companies ran trains both normal gauge and narrow gauge on the Western Front.
William as a Railway Clerk before the war would likely been used in the administrative functions of one of these Companies
Photo RE men on the Somme 1918
train derailed repair gang
Railway engine in difficulties
Railway engine, during World War I. A group of soldiers stand around a large railway engine. Some of them hold spades, while others are lined up next to the engine. More soldiers stand on the embankment, ready to help if need be. The mud and debris appear to be causing problems.

The conditions on the Western Front were appalling and made moving of men, machinery and supplies very difficult, as this picture illustrates.

[Original reads: ‘THE BRITISH ADVANCE IN THE WEST. Railway engine in difficulties.’]

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