George Fred Blinko [4512]

1895-1976

Father Nm: Albert Blencowe [3735] [3252] c 24.7.1859 Birmingham St. Thomas -1931: Oldest known ancestor – William Blencowe 1729 Mixbury.

Mother Nm: Elizabeth Hannah Anderton [10812] born 1863 Kings Norton.

Marriage Dt: 1923.

Christ Church, Sparkbrook, Warwick.

K comments: Brothers William Henry Blincoe awarded a DCM when with the Royal Warwickshire Regt. Brother Herbert Blincoe served with 2/5^th Essex Regiment, 11^th Bn. Royal Fusiliers, 1st London Regiment. Brother Alfred Blinko served with the South Lancashire Regiment.

Spouse Comments: Sybil Emily Davy 1894-1961.

Children: Joyce Sybil 1925, June Elizabeth Mary 1937 – 9.Dec 2009 St. Austell Cornwall

(Research): GR[B] Kings Norton Sept 1895 GR[D] Solihull, vol 34 p 0085 Mar 1976.

1895 Sept Qtr Kings Norton, Blinko George Frederick King’s N. 6c 412.

1901 Census Kings Norton, Worcs

1. Albert Blincoe abt 1852 Birmingham Head
2. Elizabeth Blincoe abt 1863 Birmingham Wife
3. Albert Blincoe abt 1881 Birmingham Son
4. Alfred Blincoe abt 1899 Birmingham Son
5. Edith Blincoe abt 1887 Birmingham Dau
6. Elsie Blincoe abt 1894 Birmingham Dau
7. Ethel J Blincoe abt 1901 Birmingham Dau
8. Fred Blincoe abt 1895 Birmingham Son
9. Gertrude Blincoe abt 1896 Birmingham Dau
10. Herbert Blincoe abt 1889 Birmingham Son
11. Louisa Blincoe abt 1891 Birmingham Dau
12. Nellie Blincoe abt 1888 Birmingham Dau
13. William Henry abt 1892 Birmingham Son

1911 Census 26 Florence Rd, Kings Heath, Birmingham Kings Norton

1. Blinko Albert Head Brass Wire Drawer M 1861 Small Heath 50 Worcestershire
2. Blinko Alfred Son M 1899 Kings Heath 12
3. Blinko Edith Dau Vuer Brass Factory F 1887 Kings Heath 24 Worcestershire
4. Blinko Gerty Dau F 1898 Kings Heath 13
5. Blinko Elizabeth Wife F 1862 Kings Heath 49
6. Blinko Elsie Dau Brass Worker F 1895 Kings Heath 16
7. Blinko Ethel Dau F 1901 Kings Heath 10
8. Blinko Frederick Son Butchers Servant M 1896 Kings Heath 15 Worcestershire
9. Blinko Gladys Dau F 1902 Kings Heath 9
10. Blinko Herbert Son Brass Wire Drawer M 1889 Kings Heath 22 Worcestershire
11. Blinko Louie Dau Domestic Servant F 1891 Kings Heath 20 Worcestershire
12. Blinko Nellie Dau Boxer Cadburys Bars F 1887 Kings Heath 24 Worcestershire
13. Blinko William Son Labour Brass Wire M 1893 Kings Heath 18 Worcestershire

 

Gloucestershire Regiment	Labour Corps

WW1

Blinko George “Fred”, 1895, Kings Norton, Corporal, 235016, 604569, 10^th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment, 895^th AE Coy. Labour Corps.

SYNOPSIS

One of four brothers to serve on the Western Front all four entered later in the war, William in 1916 but Herbert, Alfred and Fred arrived there in mid-1917. While William was decorated with the DCM and discharged early in 1917 (wounded or sick) The other brothers were blessed with some luck and seem to have survived without serious injury. The Medal Roll doesn’t indicate which battalion of the Gloster’s was with but a process of study the Campaign medals and serial numbers of the Gloucester regiment determined it was the 10^th Battalion. Note: Fred was recorded as a Blincoe on his medal roll but after the War, he uses Blinko as does brother the youngest brother Alfred.

We have little information about Fred from Army records, the medal card indicates only overseas service, his regiments and serial numbers. Fred’s first number 235016 is in the range for the 10^th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment. The block of numbers preceding his was allocated in March 1917 so we can estimate that Fred joined the 10^th on the western front in mid to late 1917. Note: Analysis of 6 digit numbers in beginning 235xxx in the Campaign Medals database show men to be with the 10^th Gloucesters albeit many transferred from the 5th Warwickshire and a different serial number prior.

The 1918 and 1919 Absent Voters confirms Fred’s war timeline. It records that on the 15^th Oct. 1918 Fred was a Corporal with the 10^th Gloucesters. This was completed by a relative and I think. The 10^th battalion was disbanded in February 1918 but it seems from CWGC deaths after disbandment the 10^th Glosters were recorded even though they had moved to the 13^th Entrenching battalion in February 1918.

However, by April 1919 the absent voter’s list says he was with 895 A.E. Co. Labour Corps (A E is an Area Employment Company). The Medal roll confirms the Regiment (not the battalions).

1917

• Summer 1918 is likely the earliest that Fred joined the 10^th Bn in France. In July they had spells in the front line at Nieuport on the Flanders coastline, however, in August and September they spent the entire time in Reserve in Camp at Bray Dunes near Dunkirk.
• 21^st-25^th Oct. The Bn. finally left the Camp and marched via Zeggers Cappell and Arneke to Heerzeele west of Poperinghe.
• 8^th-16^th Nov. Dambre Camp Vlamertinghe. Making improvements to camp
• 17^th-19^th Nov. In the line near St Jean casualties were taken. 5 men were killed in November this may have been Fred’s first encounter with combat.

1918

• 19^th Feb. The 10^th Battalion is disbanded and the men transferred to the 13^th Entrenching Battalion of the 39^th Division.
• On 21^st March 1918 the German Spring Offensive, or ‘Kaiserschlacht’, began with Operation Michael on the Western Front. British Third and Fifth Armies’ fronts were penetrated at several points. The following day 39^th Division, including the 13^th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment, was in action and taking heavy punishment over the next week, with the battalion losing over 300 men killed, wounded and missing. CWGC records 13 (previously 10^th Bn) men killed on the 23/24^th March.²
• 4^th-8^th Apr. Heavy Casualties are again attributed to ex 10^th Bn men when 29 men are killed between these dates. Despite being reorganized and committed to action again in April, as one half of 39^th Division’s No. 2 Composite Battalion, the losses proved to be so great that the 13^th Battalion was disbanded in May.
• May. It is likely at this time that Fred is transferred to the Labour Corps. and possibly to the 895 Area employment company is within April 1919.

1919

• Apr. 1919 Absent Voters 26 Florence St. Moseley Recorded (by Mother) as being with 895 A.E. Co. Labour Corps (A E is an Area Employment Company). Little is known of these companies, we do know is that they were under the Director of Labour for the Marseilles area but no specific locations. As an Area Employment Company, it would have had men with specialist skills such as cook, tailor, clerk and telephone operator as well as undertaking basic labouring tasks – although they tended to have men of a lower medical category so generally undertook the less strenuous tasks.

Likely discharged after April 1919 as Fred is home by the 1920 voters list.
Fred’s Grandson has in correspondence stated he “Served in the Signalling Corps 1914/18 and was wounded in action”. The story is plausible and supported by his assignment to the Labour Corps and the “light tasks” typical of his Company. If Fred was wounded he was however not awarded the Silver War Badge.

Medals

Awarded the British and Victory medals. Note: The Labour Corps was his last Regiment and so he is on their medal roll even though he may have earned those medals with the 10^th Gloucesters.

Sources

1. The Long, Long Trail The British Army in the Great War, 1914-1918.. http://www.1914-1918.net.
2. CWGC records from the database at www.hut-six.co.uk
3. War Diary of the 10^th Gloucestershire Regiment.

After the War

A relative says of Fred’s post-war occupations and residence ”Tram conductor, joiner, warehouseman in a furniture maker, Birmingham near the Bullring markets….lived in Kyotts Lake Road or thereabouts until 1934, moved to St James’ Place Shirley, Solihull, Warwickshire.”

1921 Census

19 Jun 1921

26, Florence Road, King’s Heath, Smethwick, Worcestershire

Albert Blinko Head Male 1860 61 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Brass Founders Wire Drawer W H Hoose & Sons Brass Founders Elizabeth Blinko Wife Female 1862 58 Solihull, Warwickshire, England Home Duties – Frederick Blinko Son Male 1895 25 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Metal Workers Warehouse Man Kings Norton Metal Works Metal Works Alfred Blinko Son Male 1898 22 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Hospital Attendent Sorrents Hospital Ethel Blinko Daughter Female 1901 20 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Home Duties – Gladys Blinko Daughter Female 1902 19 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England Golf Ball Maker County Golf Co Golf Ball Maker Madge Blinko Adopted grandchild Female 1920 1 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England

Death 21^st Feb. 1976 age 81 years

Died of broncho-pneumonia, Cremated Yardley Cemetery

GR[D] Solihull vol 34 p 0085 Mar 1976.

Gallery

 

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