Albert John William Blinko [4473]

1894-1963

Father Nm: Albert William Blinko [3298] born 1864 St. Savior died 1953 Wandsworth; Oldest known ancestor – William Blincko C1635 Hedgereley.

Mother Nm: Emily Shimell 1865.

Marriage Dt: 23 Jul 1921 to Daisey Laura Whyman, Battersea St Saviour, Wandsworth.

K comments: Son John Raymond served in the RAF in WW2

Spouse Comments: Daisy Laura Whyman 1898-1985.

Children: John Raymond 1923. Irene P 1929.

Born 1894

Army given date 27 Ju 1894 but 1939 census 3 Jun 1894 which is likely to the accurate one.

1899

Admitted to School-age 4, Name: Albert Blinks, Age: 4, Birth Date: 21 Jul 1894, School: Rotherhithe New Road School, Address: Lower Rd., Borough: Southwark, Admission Date: 10 Jan 1899

1901 Census 107 Old Kent Rd Bermondsey

1. Albert W Blinko 36
2. Emily Blinko 36
3. Albert J W Blinko 6
4. Sarah Searle 12

1911 Census 28 Maybury Street, Tooting SW

1. Blinks(o) Albert John William Son M 1895 16 Junior Clerk
2. Blinks(o) Albert William Head M 1865 46
3. Blinks(o) Emily Wife F 1865 46

1912

• 1^st Apr. Enlisted with the 18^th London Regiment as a Territorial

London Irish London Regiment	London Irish London Regiment

WW1

Blinko Albert John William, 1894, Camberwell, Sergeant, 1096, 590091, 2/18^th London Regiment (London Irish Rifles).

Medal index card shows overseas service with the 2/18^th London Regt. The Index card also shows an area called the theatre of war and a code which enables us to know Albert spent the following periods in these countries;

• France 23-6-16 to 24-11-16
• Greece and Macedonia 25 -11-16 to 9-6-17
• Egypt 10-6-17 to 5 -3 18

1912

• Albert enlisted and may have had a different regimental number at that time.

1914

• Either transferred to a duration of the war or enlisted in the 2/18^th Bn. London Irish Regiment. Serial Numbers included 1096 in the range for that year. When the Territorial Force renumbered in 1917, the 18^th London’s did so within the range 590001 to 610000. Albert was early in the new numbering scheme recognising his seniority.

1915

• Jan. In 2/5^th Bn. London Brigade in 2/2^nd London Division at Reigate. This formation was later retitled as 180^th Brigade in the 60^th (2/2^nd London) Division.
• Mar. Moved to St Alban’s. Went on to Bishops Stortford (May 1915) and Sutton Veny (January 1916).

1916

• 23^rd Jun. Travelled to France on a Paddle Steamer St Tudno. Landed at Le Havre. “The 60^th Division went to France in June 1916. Their first experience at the front was in the Arras district. They were there initiated in trench warfare by the 51^st Division before the latter moved south to take part in the great conflict on the Somme.”⁵
• 22^nd May. The German attack at Vimy Ridge. A small counter-attack by units of the 140^th and 141^st Brigades took place at 2 am on 22^nd May but did not manage to change the situation except on the right.
• 15^th – 22^nd Sept. Battle of Flers-Courcelette capturing High Wood. At Hill 60 in the line. Heavy bombardment by hostile trench mortars and artillery from 7 am to 10 am. A second heavy bombardment by hostile artillery and trench mortars from 4.10 to 5 pm. S.O.S. signal put up by Bn. on the left. The enemy came over the top but was driven back.³
• 25^th Nov. The Battalion moved to Salonika. Travelling by train from Longpre to Marseilles and sailing via Malta,

  

  The 2/18^th Bn. arrived in Salonika on 25 December 1916.

1917

• Apr-May. In Reserve and support during The Battles of Doiran.
• 2^nd Jul. The Bn. moved to Egypt, arriving in Alexandria 5^th July. They moved to Egypt, concentrating at Moascar in the Southern Suez Canal Zone then advanced into Palestine.
• Jul. The Division began to advance to Palestine and by 23^rd July was at Deir el Balah (8 miles SW of Gaza). The Division then remained in Palestine and took part in the following engagements;
• 30^th Oct -7^th Nov.The Third Battle of Gaza
• Notably in the capture of Beersheba (31^st October) and the capture of the Sheria position on 6 November. The third battle of Gaza was begun as a feint to divert enemy forces to Gaza. The garrison was bombarded for six days, and three divisions (including the 60^th) deployed, to fool the Turks into believing that another frontal attack was imminent. The real effort, however, was to be made at Beersheba, the eastern extremity of the Turkish defensive line. Beersheba fell on 31^st October 1917, allowing the British and dominion forces to outflank and roll up the Turkish defensive line.
• 7^th Nov. On the 7^th of November “the London troops, after a severe engagement at Tel el Sheria, which they captured by a bayonet charge, at 4 a.m. on the 7^th, subsequently repulsing several counter-attacks, pushed forward their line about a mile to the north.”⁵
• 7-9^th Dec. The capture of Jerusalem.

  

  • 7^th Dec. “The advance across steep and rocky hillsides and deep valleys,” artillery support being difficult, indeed sometimes impossible, while ” the opposition encountered was considerable.” The weather was most unfavourable. The first objectives were carried out soon after dawn and the troops pressed on. ” By about noon London troops had already advanced over two miles, and were swinging north-east to gain the Nablus — Jerusalem road,” ” throwing back their right to form a defensive flank, facing east towards Jerusalem, from the western outskirts of which considerable rifle and artillery fire was being experienced. . . . By nightfall … all the enemy’s prepared defences west and north-west of Jerusalem had been captured. . . . The London troops and Yeomanry had displayed great endurance in difficult conditions. The London troops, especially, after a night march in heavy rain to reach their positions of deployment, had made an advance of three to four miles in difficult hills in the face of stubborn opposition.”⁵
  • 8th Dec. “The advance was resumed, the London troops and Yeomanry driving back rearguards. At noon the city was surrendered. The Army had taken over 12,000 prisoners and 100 guns between 31st October and 9th December.”⁵
• 26-30^th Dec. The defence of Jerusalem. Between 1.30 a.m. and 8 a.m. on the 27^th, the outposts of the 60^th Division on the ridge north of Beit Hanninah repelled four determined attacks, but the heaviest fighting took place to the east of the Jerusalem — Nablus road. Repeated attacks were made against Tel el Ful; a conspicuous hill from which Jerusalem and the intervening ground can be overlooked. The attacks were made by picked bodies of troops and were pressed with great determination. At only one point did the enemy succeed in reaching the main line of defence. He was driven out at once by the local reserves. In all these attacks he lost heavily.”⁵

1918

• 5^th Mar. Albert is returned home to England. His granddaughter recalls that he lost a lung when wounded in Palestine and so must have been wounded in the capture or defence of Jerusalem.
• 4-7th Jul. The Bn. is disbanded. Albert must have transferred to 18^th Bn. but not to overseas service ie a base posting.

1919

• 24^th Jan. Albert was honourably discharged, he had a lung removed in Palestine reason not known, and subsequently awarded the Silver War badge

Sources

1. How Jerusalem Was Won, by W.T. Massey.
2. The Long, Long Trail, The British Army of 1914-1918.
3. Cheryl Blinko; Granddaughter.
4. The History of the Sixtieth Division.
5. The Territorial Divisions 1914-18.

Medals

Albert qualified for the British and Victory War medals plus Silver War Medal. He was honourably discharged 24 Jan 1919 with either war wounds or sickness.

After the War

1939 Census Merton Cliffwood Avenue, Barrow-upon-Soar R.D., Leicestershire, England

Albert K W Blinko, 03 Jun 1894 Male Commercial Traveller Stationery Travelling Married
Daisy L Blinko, 02 Feb 1898 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married

Laura M Whyman 06 Apr 1873 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties

Note two others at this address are not disclosed at this time.

1960

Albert is living at 4 Cliffwood Ave. Birstall Leicester is recorded travelling from South Africa to Durban with his wife Daisy. This trip to visit son John and family.

Death 1963 age 69 years

Name Albert J W Blinko, Birth Date: abt 1894, Date of Registration: Sept 1963, Age at Death: 69.

Registration District: Leicester, Inferred County: Leicestershire, Volume: 3a, Page: 501

Probate 1963

Blinko Albert John William of Merton 4 Cliffwood Ave, Birstall Leicestershire.

Died 29 June 1963 at the Royal Infirmary Leics. Probate 12 Nov to Daisy Laura Blinko widow.

Gallery

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