Blencowe Charles W 1892

Charles Walter Blencowe [4445]

1892-1973

Fathers Name: Charles Blencowe 1861; Oldest Known Ancestor – Thomas Blencowe abt 1475 Marston St Lawrence.

Mothers Name: Frances Caroline Crowe, b. bt 1865, St James, London, Middlesex d. Abt Sep 1934, Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Marriage Dt:1925 to Ethel Wellings Kidderminster.

Spouse Comments: Ethel Millicent Wellings born April 1896 Kidderminster -died 1987 Kidderminster.

Children: Philip C 1930, Muriel F 1932, Colin Hubert 1936.

(Research):GR[B] Camberwell Dec 1893 JD.

GR[D] Kidderminster vol 9D p 330 March 1973.

Birth 22^nd Sept. 1892

Baptised 19^th Jun.1896

Father’s Name: Charles Blencowe [3262] born Sep q 1861 Newington mother Blencowe born 13 Jun 1861 ,

Mother’s Name: Frances Blencowe, Parish or Poor Law Union: Camberwell Emmanuel

Borough: Southwark.

1901 Census 68 Hurcott Rd Kidderminster

1. Blencoe Alfred Son 12
2. Blencoe Charles Head Commercial Clerk 39
3. Blencoe Charles Son 7
4. Blencoe Constance Dau 4
5. Blencoe Frances Wife 36
6. Blencoe Gertrude Dau 13
7. Blencoe Mabel Dau 8

1911 Census 225 Hurcott Road Kidderminster

1. Blencowe Alfred Charles Son Commercial Clrk Ironworks 22
2. Blencowe Charles Head Commercial Clrk Carpet. Manuf. 49
3. Blencowe Charles Walter Son 17 Commercial Clerk
4. Blencowe Constance Dau Designer Carpet Rug Manuf. 14
5. Blencowe Frances Caroline Wife 46
6. Blencowe Gertrude Frances Dau 23
7. Blencowe Mabel Agnes Dau Dressmakers Asst. 19
8. Blencowe Gladys Dau 7

Worcestershire Yeomanry	Worcestershire Regiment

WW1

Blencowe Charles Walter, Camberwell, 1892, Private, 6584, 242145, Yeomanry (Queens Own Worcs. Hussars), 2/8^th Worcestershire Regiment.

For Charles’s war experience we have;

• The Medal Card, which notates he has two service numbers with the Worcs Regt. the later introduced in 1917. He is not awarded the 1914-15 Star but, only the  British and Victory medals Which indicate overseas service after 1915.
• a photograph that is dated 1914
• and the recollection of son Colin Blencowe of his gassing in the Somme and subsequent time in hospital in England

Note: The numbers 240001- 265000 were allotted to the 8^th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment.

Further research has revealed that 6 men of the 2/8^th Bn. died during the war between Oct 1916-Nov. 1918 had serial numbers in the range 242105-242186. from this we can say in all probability both Charles Blencowe and Edward E Barrett served also with the 2/8^th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment. The Medal roll confirms Charles’s regiment to be the 2/8^th Worcesters.

1914

• 30^th Aug. Photograph dated this day shows Charles in Worcestershire Yeomanry uniform and from this, we assume the Queens Own Worcs. Hussars were his first regiment. A 2/1st battalion had been formed in September 1914 and a 3/1st battalion would be formed in June 1915.

1915

• From son Colin Blencowe ” My father was ? in the Worcester Yeomanry, trained in the Calvary on Salisbury Plain, was in the battle of the Somme, gassed, and came home to a hospital at Ottershaw Park near Chertsey, Surrey.” Note: This, unfortunately, doesn’t date the gassing and if it was on the Somme it could have been as late as 1918 as it appears Charles was not in the first battle of the Somme in 1916.
• Nov. Probably a transfer to the 2/8^th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment, part of 183^rd Brigade, 61^st (2nd South Midland) Division. The 61^st Div. was a second-line Territorial Division. That is men who volunteered and were required to waive their right to stay home if they also volunteered for overseas combat. Note the Hussars had by July 1915 gone to Egypt for the Gallipoli campaign.

1916

• Feb-Mar. Training with the 61^st Div. on Salisbury Plain.⁴
• 5^th May. Division Inspected by George V
• 24^th May Landed at Le Havre, France.
• 19^th Jul. The Attack at Fromelles. The first major action in which the Division was engaged turned out to be an unmitigated disaster. An attack was made at Fromelles, a subsidiary action to the much larger battle taking place further south on the Somme. The Division suffered very heavy casualties for no significant gain and no enemy reserves were diverted from the Somme. Such was the damage to the Division and its reputation that it was not used again other than for holding trench lines until 1917. Fortunately, it seems the 2/8^th Bn. Worcesters were not used in this attack.³
• It would appear that possibly Charles was back in the UK by the end of 1916 at the latest. ⁴ The following regimental history is provided in case this proves to be inaccurate.

1917

• 17^th-22^nd Mar. The German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line The 61st was one of the Divisions employed in the cautious pursuit of the enemy, when the Germans carried out a deep withdrawal from the area of the Somme to formidable pre-prepared positions that the British called the Hindenburg Line, in March 1917.³
• 17^th Mar. The 2/8^th Bn. and the 61^st Div. captured Chaulnes and Bapaume. The 2/8^th had a very active role in this fighting.¹
• Aug-Sept. The Battle of Langemarck.* On the 17^th Aug. the 61^st Div was brought up to relieve tired divisions. The 183rd Bde was ordered forward to take over the capture line and the 2/8^th Bn. came under fire. The 2/8^th took over the Brigade line with HQ at “Ulhan Farm” The next heavy fighting fell to the second line battalions. After a short tour in the forward area, the 2/8th were relieved on the evening of 20/21st. During the previous 3 days, there had been some outpost fighting, notably in one incident a platoon of the 2/8^th had surprised and annihilated a German outpost near Somme Farm.¹ Casualties for the attack the 2/8^th suffered 8 officers and 138 ORs killed or wounded.¹

  

* the battles marked * are phases of the Third Battles of the Ypres

• 30^th Nov. The German counter-attacks** In late November 1917, the British Third Army made a highly successful attack, using massed tanks for the first time, near Cambrai. 61^st Division was initially held in reserve and was still in the area when the enemy made a determined counter-attack on 30^th November. The Division was ordered up to reinforce the units under attack in the area of La Vacquerie and for some days was involved in a hard fight to stem the enemy attack.³
• 1^st-3^rd Dec. La Vacquarie. The 61^st Div was brought up to support the 20^th Division. The 183^rd Bde marched forward to Metz and then turned left into Havrincourt Wood. The battalions of the 183rd lay in Havrincourt Wood all day of 1^st Dec. After dark came orders to advance. The entire Bde relieved the 20th at the line just in front of La Vacquerie, the 2/8^th on the north flank. With the dawn of 2nd Dec., the enemy’s attack was renewed, on the left, the 2/8^th repulsed all attacks but the enemy established a foothold at points in the line. Artillery bombardment and continual attacks followed and the 2/8^th suffered badly 5 Officers were killed. By daylight on the 3^rd Dec, the Worcesters were relieved by the Royal Warwicks. Casualties on the 2^nd and 3^rd Dec. 3 Officers killed and 10 men. wounded 9 Officers and 89 men. Missing 2 Officers and 36 men.

** The battles marked ** are phases of the Cambrai Operations

1918

• 21^st Mar. The Battle of St Quentin~ Wounded On 21 March 1918, the enemy launched what was intended to be a decisive offensive, attacking the British Fifth and Third Armies on the Somme in overwhelming strength. The 61^st (2nd South Midland) Division was holding the forward zone of defences in the area northwest of Saint-Quentin in the area of Ham and lost many men as it fought a chaotic but ultimately successful withdrawal back over the Somme crossings over the next ten days. In the initial clash, the South Midland faced three enemy Divisions and only began to retire on the afternoon of 22 March, when ordered to do so in consequence of the enemy’s progress at other parts of the line.³

  

~ the battles marked ~ are phases of the First Battles of the Somme 1918

It seems this is the battle in which Charles was gassed and invalided back to England as per his son’s recollection of the end of his time in France.

 

Note: By the time it was relieved after fighting all the way back to the very gates of Amiens in the First Battles of the Somme 1918, the Division had been involved in continuous action since August 1917 and was most exhausted. The remnants were moved north to what had been a quieter part of the line on the La Bassee Canal near Bethune. Unfortunately, it was near where the Germans launched the second phase of their offensive on 9 April 1918. The Division became involved and many casualties were incurred.³

• After 21 March. Admitted to Ottershaw Park near Chertsey, Surrey. This was a small hospital with 30 beds for Convalescence and fits with a soldier recovering from gassing.

Sources

1. Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War Vol 1-2, Fitz M. Stacke, Luton: Andrews UK:2013.
2. Worcestershire Regiment website.
3. The Long, Long Trail The British Army in the Great War, 1914-1918.
4. Son Colin Blencowe provided family history.

Medals

Awarded British and Victory medals.

After the War

1921 Census

17 Chester Rd Kidderminster

First name(s)	Last name	Relationship to head	Sex	Birth year	Age in years	Birth place	Occupation	Employer
Charles	Blencowe	Head	Male	1861	60	Walworth, London, England	Book Keeper	The Empier Carpet Co Ltd, Carpet & Ruy Manufactuers
Frances Caroline	Blencowe	Wife	Female	1864	56	London, England	Home Duties	–
Gertrude Frances	Blencowe	Daughter	Female	1887	34	Walworth, London, England	Home Duties	–
Alfred Charles	Blencowe	Son	Male	1888	32	Camberwell, London, England	Correspondence Clerk	Baldwins Limited Iron & Steel Manufacturers
Charles	Blencowe	Son	Male	1893	27	Camberwell, London, England	Shipping Clerk	Baldwins Limited Iron & Steel Manufacturers
Constance	Blencowe	Daughter	Female	1896	24	Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England	Solicitors Clerk	Ellis W Talbot Solicitors
Gladys	Blencowe	Daughter	Female	1903	17	Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England	–	–
Frederick William	Blencowe	Visitor	Male	1859	61	Walworth, London, England	Printer Warehouseman	Victoria House Prinitng Co Ld, 21 Tudor St, London Ec

1939 Census 20 Larches Road , Kidderminster M.B., Worcestershire, England

Charles W Blencowe 22 Sep 1893 Male ??? Married
George H Humphries 30 Apr 1868 Male Carpet Weaver Married
Eliza Humphries 06 May 1878 Female House Duties Married
Ethel M Blencowe 12 Apr 1896 Female Unpaid Domestic Married

Three people not disclosed probably children Philip C 1930, Muriel F 1932, Colin Hubert 1936.

Death 1973 age 80 years

Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Volume: 9d, Page: 330.

Gallery

Note: there are 2 service records for this man that exist that are not shown in this gallery for copyright reasons.