Blencowe Frederick J 1893

Frederick James Blencowe  [4427]

1893-1957

Known as Frank.

Father Nm: William Blencowe [788]^ born Dec Q 1851 Daventry mother Palmer c 1.2.1852 Norton died 1927 Norton: Oldest known ancestor – John Blinco 1660 Whilton

Mother Nm: Anne Sullivan [7106] born 1856 Templemore Ireland

Marriage Dt:1927 Coventry to Etta Leavesley (Howes) a widow with four children.

Kin comments: A long line of military history in the family Great Grandfather William 1797-1883 was a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo. Father William was in the 64th Regiment (2^nd Staffs) from before 1883 until 1889. Brother Ernest G P. served with the Lancers but was discharged sick in 1910 and died that year. Brother  John was killed in action in Ypres in 1914. Brother  William Joseph served with the RHA.

Spouse Comments: Etta Leavesley (Howes) 1885-1957.

Research (RB) Army records give the name Frank James date of birth and birthplace and father William of Norton. This appears to be an Army name he adopted and it stuck.

Birth 1893 Daventry Volume 3B Page 114.

Frank or Frederick?

Throughout his Army career, this man appears as Frank James ie from 1911- 1926. It appears that he may have been known as Frank growing up and thereafter used the name. Note there is no Frank (Francis) James Blencowe to be found in 1901 and 1911 census. It is noticeable that in 1927 he marries under is baptism name. The birthplace of Norton, Daventry features in all Army records and records confirm son of William of Norton.

1901 Census Frederick Blencowe born 1893 Norton son of William and Anne

1911 Census  Denton near Hardingstone

There is a Frederick James Blencowe (mistranscribed) at Denton near Hardingstone Northants a farmworker Waggoner born 1893 Daventry

1911

• 4^th Nov. Enlisted in 12th Lancers for a period likely 6 or 12 years; Occupation a Farm Labourer gives father as William of Norton, Daventry.

12th (Prince of Wales) Lancers	5th (Royal Irish) Lancers

WW1

Blencowe Frank (Frederick) James, 1893, Norton, Private /Trooper, L/3590, 312020, 12th Lancers, 5th Lancers, Royal Tank Corps.

Already in Service at the outbreak of war Frank was with the 12^th Lancers. It’s not known when he transferred to the 5^th Lancers. However, the 5^th and 12^th Lancers were part of the 2^nd Cavalry division and as such, the general outline of their movements (below) would be the same.

1914

• 15^th Aug. Frank and the 12th Lancers embarked for France.
• 18^th Aug. The war diary for the 12th Lancers (WO 95/1140) shows 12^th Lancers arrived in France on 18 August 1914 and, only ten days later, fought a battle against a regiment of German Dragoons.
• 28^th Aug. Battle of Mons. Extracts from the unit war diaries show that the 12th Lancers charged on the Lance and that their victory at Moy was a historic battle still remembered by the regiment today on Moy/Mons Day. Wikipedia:  The Lancers made a successful charge against a dismounted squadron of Prussian Dragoons at Moÿ-de-l’Aisne in the Great Retreat
• 6 Sept. The Lancers were re-organised under the 2^nd Cavalry Division and this is perhaps when Frank transferred to the 5^th (Royal Irish) Lancers, both Bn.s. being in the 2^nd Cavalry Division. The 12^th and 5^th as part of this division were involved throughout the war and indeed a great many of the battles they both participated in.
• 22^nd Oct. First battle of Ypres. For 12 days the Lancers assisted by an Infantry brigade of the Indian Corps held over 7 miles of line against attacks from the German forces. ¹
• 1^st Nov. The 12th Lancers exhausted and weakened counter-attacked took part of the village of Wytschaete with the bayonet inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. ¹
• Dec. The Lancers and Horses went into Billets in the Steenwerck area for the winter. ¹

1915

• Feb. Dismounted troops took over a line in the Zillebeke Woods (Ypres).

  

  

• 14^th-21^st May. Horses left in the Billets and the regiment rushed to the front to take over the line from mauled 3^rd Cavalry at Verlorenhoek. Casualties from shelling and sniping. ¹

  

A series of frustrating events in the year when the Cavalry was planned to be used, conditions didn’t permit The units used in dismounted mode to either man trenches or support Infantry. In September all hopes of the cavalry being used vanished the Regiment withdrew to billets in Fontaine le Hermans. ¹

1916

• 2nd Jan. The dismounted company from the Regiment was sent to Vermelles remaining there for 6 weeks. Fighting consists of sniping and bombing attacks. ¹

The balance of the year and winter of 1916-17 was mainly spent in reserve.

1917

• 10^th April Arras. The regiment ordered forward to just west of the village of Wancourt. The 12^th Lancers were at the rear but very exposed to machine-gun and rifle fire and suffered most 6 Officers and 50 other ranks killed or wounded. ¹

• 20^th Nov-3^rd Dec. Attack on Cambrai Nov 1917. In November 1917 the 2^nd Division Cavalry was gathered before Havrincourt Woods in front of the German defence lines, the job of hiding the thousands of horses and supplies was skilfully carried out. One of the early tasks for the 2^nd Cavalry was to secure the bridge over the St Quentin Canal, but unfortunately, the first tank to cross this structure caused it to collapse thus blocking any path to go over the Canal.

  

  The Cavalry continued (as the attack went on) to be hampered by uncertain leadership and the tank’s failure to leave open pathways. One of the key reasons the attack failed was ”Insufficient mobile resources could not get through in time to exploit the success of the tanks, and within days the chance had gone”.²

• 28-29^th Nov. Bourlon Wood. A dismounted company (6 Officers 164 men) of the 12^th Lancers were entrusted with the defence of the north-east corner of Bourlon Wood and throughout the 28^th and 29^th resisted every attack. Casualties 5 officers and 64 ORs killed.¹

1918

• 30^th Mar. Amiens The Regiment assisted the 9^th Australian Infantry Brigade their action was to successfully clear the woods (Bois de Hangard) for the 9^th Australians to advance. ¹
• 21^st -27^th Mar. German Offensive. The Regiments dismounted company in the front line but as the Germans attacked succeeded the whole of the regiment including mounted men assisted the French troops in their defence and consolidation. ¹
• 1^st Apr. Counterattack on Moreil Wood by 2nd Cavalry Div. The dismounted company of the regiment took part in this successful capture of ground. Casualties high within the Cavalry Division. ¹
• 9^th Nov. Advance to the near the Belgian Border. The Regiment made its first mounted advance since 1914 on this day capturing and occupying the villages of Hestrud and Clairfayts.

1919

Frank was not amongst those demobilised in 1919 rather he stayed with the regiment until 1923.

Sources

1. The 12^th Royal Lancers in France: August 17^th, 1914-November 11^th, 1918. by H. V. S. Charrington.
2. Bourlon Woods – Cave, Nigel and Horsfall, Jack.

Medals

Frank was awarded the 1914 ‘Mons” Star medal with clasp and rosette plus the British and Victory medals.

Often referred to as Clasp and Roses and instituted in 1919 (Army Order Number 361 published 16^th October 1919) it was awarded to those who had operated within the range of enemy mobile artillery during the above period.[4] When the ribbon bar was worn alone, recipients of the clasp to the medal wore a small silver rosette on the ribbon bar.

After the War

1923

Frank was discharged on 3^rd Sept 1923 having completed his 12-year term.

1924-26

Frank re-enlisted on 10^th Oct 1924 at Southampton with the Royal Tank Corps, Occupation: a Barracks labourer.

Frank completed 2 more years of service discharging on 9^th Oct 1926 address given is care of the Post Office, Tidworth Hants.

1927 Married

Married Etta Leavesley (Howes) in Coventry.. Etta had four children from previous marriage.

1939 Census

325 Tile Hill Lane, Coventry, Warwickshire,

Living with Frank and Etta are two of her children

Frederick J Blencowe 29 Mar 1893 Male General Labourer Married 99 1
Etta Blencowe 08 Feb 1885 Female Office Cleaner Married 99 2
Edna Cooper (Leavesley) 26 Oct 1921 Female Milling Machine Operator Single 99 3
Eric Leavesley 06 Feb 1919 Male Engine Fitter Single 99 4

Death 1954 Coventry