Frederick William Blencowe [2121]
1890-
Father Nm: James Blencow [1668] born 1857 Brackley D.Q born Banbury died 1914 nr Banbury; Oldest known ancestor – Thomas Blencowe,1803, Bishops Itchington.
Mother Nm: Caroline Boazman (Bosman) [6248] 1862.
Marriage Dt: 8 January 1924, Ambala, Bengal, India
Kin comments: Father James served between 1879 -1899 First with the 1st Dragoon Guards he went to South Africa in 1879 and fought in several battles the most famous the battle of Ulundi. Discharged he served again with 2nd Dragoons Guards in Ireland and later Private 1423,3527 Oxford Light Infantry Territorials. Finally retiring age 44 in 1901.
Sister Elizabeth Mary Blencowe 1894 served as a Munitions worker in WW1 at the Banbury Shell Filling Factory her husband Frederick Harris served in WW1 and was wounded
Spouse Comments: Brenda Doreen Lowe 1903–1967
BIRTH 1903, Wallasey, Cheshire, England
DEATH 3 SEP 1967, Harare, Zimbabwe (Salisbury, Rhodesia)
Children:
1st March 1890 Birth2
Births Sept 1890, Banbury, Vol. 3a Page 890. Baptism Date: 3 Sep 1890
Baptism Place: Banbury, St Mary, Oxfordshire, England
1901 Census
- Blencowe Llewelyn Son M 1893 Banbury 8 Neithrop Oxon
- Blencowe Elizabeth Dau F 1895 Grimston Leics. 6 Neithrop Oxon
- Blencowe Caroline Wife F 1855 Banbury 46 Neithrop Oxon
- Blencowe Frederick William Son M 1891 Banbury 10 Neithrop Oxon
1908-1910
- 1st May .1908 enlisted with the 2nd East Surrey regiment his age 18 years 2 months.2 He was initially (101 days) with the 4th Bn. East Surreys a Reserve battalion and then later transferred.2 In 1910 a draft was sent to join the 2nd East Surrey regiment in Burma.1
- 13 Sep 1910 .” they travelled by train to Bombay and sailed to Burma. They disembarked at Rangoon and travelled upriver to post their HQ and 4 companies at Thyetmyo, 2 companies at Mandalay and two at Meiktila. The river journey was made in the rainy season so proved to be very uncomfortable. In Feb 1911 the battalion HQ and 3 companies were relocated to Shwebo.
1911 Census Military Service Meiktila Burma.
Blencowe Frederick William, Private, Army 2nd East Surrey Regt., M, 1890, Oxfordshire, 21, Burma and Andaman Islands, Overseas Military.
Most of the 2nd Battalion’s tour in Burma involved training based in Rangoon, with detachments sent to Mandalay and Meiktila in Burma. Burmese service finished in 1913 and manoeuvres continued in India until the Battalion was sent to England in August 1914, ready for the war.1
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| Royal Indian Army Services Corps | East Surrey Regiment |
WW1
Blencowe Frederick William, 1890, Banbury, Staff Sergeant, 6/9515, 6132279, Royal Indian Army Service Corps, 2nd East Surrey Regiment.
Synopsis
Frederick was a career soldier joining at just 18 years of age in 1908 he probably served then for over 35 years, mostly overseas in Burma, India, and Mesopotamia. Because of this career, he is one of a few Blencowes who served in both world wars. Evidence exists that Frederick lived mostly in Ambala, India between the wars and served as attached or in the Indian Army Departments for most of his service career. His whereabouts in WW1 do present some questions because of contradicting evidence suggesting that he attested in (where ?) 1914 with the 2nd East Surrey Regiment but his medals for war service indicated post-1916 onwards service only.
My conclusion after reviewing all the available information is that he was attached to the Indian Army Supply and Transport from the beginning of the war and may never have returned to Gt Britain during the period 1910-1945. He most likely only served oversea in war zones in 1917 and 1918. This was in Mesopotamia attached to the Indian Army Service Corps (IASC). Evidence shows that in 1921 he was in India and in transit between being an attached soldier to a soldier of the IASC. He is recognised by the Indian Army for his service in Iraq and Kurdistan in 1919 and 1920.
It seems he loved India made it his home, married an English woman there in 1924 and became part of the establishment of Colonial India, joining the Freemasons and serving in the second world war in administration.
A true colonial it seems that after India’s independence in 1947, he moved with his wife to live in Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe), he disappears at this stage although a record of his wife’s death in 1967 in Rhodesia exists.
1914
- 5th Aug. Recorded as enlisted in the East Surrey Regt. The East Recruitments records both his 1908 enlistment and the 1914 dates suggesting that in August 1914 while officially still with the 2nd Bn. East Surrey Regt. He was attached to the Supply and Transport Company an Indian Army Corps.
Notes: Two medal cards; These only show he was recognised for service post-1915 in the war zones ie no Star medal. One card refers to returned medals, it seems that the British and Victory medals were awarded by the Indian Government as Frederick was attached to the Indian Corps, Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force.
In 1923 a General service medal was issued with the Iraq and Kurdistan clasps. The indicates that Frederick was attached to the Indian Army Service Corps, specifically the No 2 Supply Company, the 18th Divisional Train, and the 17th Divisional Train from Oct 1917 until Nov 1921.
1914-1916
Frederick’s whereabouts for the period 1914-1916 is unknown but assumed to be in India for this period attached to IASC from 2nd East Surrey regiment
see my notes page for activities in this period of the 2nd East Surreys
1917
We pick up the activities of the two Divisional troops Frederick is identified to have been attached within 1917-1920
- 30th Mar 1917 at Akab HQ -18th Divisional Troops Supply & Transport Company.
- 20th Oct 1917 at Alexandra Lodge, Jubbulpore, Bombay Frederick (Staff Sergeant) joins the Freemasons in India.
- 18th Nov 1917 at Baghdad HQ – 18th Div Train being formed.
- 19th Oct 1918 – Tigris Front – General Headquarters in Baghdad.
1918
- 23 October. Action at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab.
On a modern map of Iraq Al Zab on the river Little Zab and where it joins the Tigris - 28 October. The Battle of Sharqat (28–30 October 1918) under the command of I Corps.The battle of Al Shirqat. was fought between the British and Indian armies and the Ottoman Empire in Mesopotamia. Became the last conflict before the signing of the Armistice of Mudros.
Al Shirqat
Note The 17th Indian Division :
The 17th Indian Division started forming in Mesopotamia from August 1917 with the 50th, 51st, and 52nd Indian Brigades. Shortly after being formed, the 50th Brigade exchanged places with the 34th Indian Brigade of 15th Indian Division.[1]
Most of the infantry battalions that had already been guarding lines of communications in Mesopotamia for some months, were somewhat acclimatized and accustomed to the country.[1] The division was involved in the action at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab between 23–26 October 1918 and the Battle of Sharqat, 28–30 October 1918[2] under command of I Corps[1]
At the end of the war, the 17th Division was chosen to form part of the occupation force for Iraq. It took part in the Iraq Rebellion in 1920. In August 1923, the division was reduced to a single brigade; the last British troops left in March 1927 and the Indian ones in November 1928.[1]
Note The 18th Indian Division :
The 18th Indian Division was formed in Mesopotamia on 24 December 1917, although the last of its brigades (55th) was not formed until January 1918. Many of the division’s units transferred directly from India so time was needed for them to become acclimatized. It remained in Mesopotamia for the rest of the First World War, taking part in the action at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab (23–26 October 1918) and the Battle of Sharqat (28–30 October 1918) under the command of I Corps.[2][3]
At the end of the war, the 18th Division was chosen to form part of the occupation force for Iraq. It took part in the Iraq Rebellion in 1920 and was broken up in the following year.[2]
Sources
- The East Surrey Regiment 1900 – 1914.
- Army Records National Archives
- Surrey, England, Regimental Rolls, 1908-1912, 1914-1947 for Frederick William Blencowe
Medals
The evidence for Frederick’s service is the Army records that exist showing his Indian Army attachment in WW1. The medal record extract below indicates that his WW1 Victory and British war medals were issued by the Indian Government. In addition, the notation IASC meaning Indian Army Service Corps is associated with these medals and the award of the General Service Medal (GSM) for service in Iraq and Kurdistan.
Awarded British and Victory medals and later the GSM with Iraq and Kurdistan clasps.
1921 Census
Frederick William is found at a barracks in Risalpur (now Pakistan) he is recorded in error as to his birthplace Bristol, not Banbury and although the census list is for men of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers this battalion was in fact either to be or in the process of being disbanded. I think we can safely say though even with these misleading facts that this is Frederick William. It would appear he didn’t wish to return to Gt Britain and in fact, stayed on probably to secure a military role in India. We know 3 years later he is in Bengal and that later he is with the Indian Army so it’s logical to suspect he was transferred to the Indian Army in the 1920s
1923
- 14 December 1923 . The GSM issued to Frederick in Ambala India
General Service Medal Iraq and Kurdistan Clasp Notes
Name Frederick William Blencowe.
Campaign or Service: India, Service Date: 1920-1935, Service Location: India.
Iraq
This clasp was presented to those who satisfied one of the following conditions:
- Served at Ramadi or north of a line east and west through Ramadi between 10 December 1919 and 13 June 1920.
- Part of an establishment within Iraq between 1 July and 17 November 1920.
Kurdistan
This clasp was awarded for the following:
- At Kirburk or north of a line east and west through Kirburk between 23 May and 31 July 1919.
- At Duhok or north of a line east and west through Duhok between 14 July and 7 October 1919.
- North of the advanced bases near Akra and Amadia between 7 November and 6 December 1919.
- The 1924 Army Order No. 387 and Army Instruction (India) No. 132 of 1925 extended these clasps eligibility requirements to cover operations in Kurdistan. These additional qualify periods are;
- Operations under Air Marshal Sir J.M. Salmond or Colonel Commandant B. Vincent between 19 March to 18 June 1923.
- Operations under Commandant H.T. Dobbin between 27 March and 28 April 1923.
Bengal 1924
Frederick marries Brenda Doreen Lowe at the Registry Office Ambala. The marriage witnessed by Captain Kennedy IASC seems to substantiate Frederick is with the IASC.
WW2
Blencowe Frederick William, Captain/Commissary, Indian Army Department
Prior to the outbreak of war in 1938, Frederick was granted a commission in the Indian Army as a Lieutenant then later as a Captain in the Indian Army Departments. Staff Lists appear for the years 1939-1941. In this administrative role his Army experience was used to help supply and organise troops of the Indian Army which was to grow to 2.5million soldiers by the end of the war, fighting in Ethiopia, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, Italy and Burma.
1938
- 1 Dec. prior to the outbreak of the war, Frederick joins the Indian Army
1939
- 19 May. Appointed Assistant Commissary Indian Army. London Gazette: India Office, 19th May 1939.
- 27 Sept. Promoted to Captain. Lts. (Asst. Comsys.) to be Capt. (Dy. Comsys.). source London Gazette.
- 1 Mar. Retires from Army but this is contradicted by Indian Records that indicate this may have been a transfer as he attained eventually the rank of Temporary Major IASC. The undermentioned officers retire—Capt. (Dy. Comsy.) F. W. Blencowe, 1st Mar. 1942 source London Gazette.
From the 1942 Army Lists
1948
- Indian Army credits Frederick with 40 years of service. 1908-1948This would have provided a pension and no doubt the funds for him and Doreen to resettle in Rhodesia probably in the early 1950s.
First name(s) Frederick William End date 1948 Last name Blencowe Date range 1908-1948 Rank Temporary Major Record reference IOR/L/MIL/14/501 Year 1908-48 Scope and content Highest Rank: Temporary Major; Regiment: Royal Indian Army Service Corps; Date of commission: 1 May 1908 Regiment – Country India Regiment as transcribed Royal Indian Army Service Corps Record set Indian Army Records Of Service 1900-1947 Collection area India Office Records and Private Papers Category Armed Forces & Conflict Date of commission 1 May 1908 Subcategory Regimental & Service Records Start date 1908 Collections from Great Britain, England
Medals
At the very least Frederick would have been awarded this medal for his service in WW2.
Retired in British Rhodesia
Likely 1950’s until his death in Salisbury Rhodesia. (Harare, Zimbabwe)
Death Before 1967 Harare?
Frederick’s wife Brenda died in 1967 in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). It seems likely that Frederick preceded Brenda dying in Salisbury Rhodesia. (Harare, Zimbabwe)
Gallery
Note: there are 5 records that exist for this man that is not shown in the Gallery for copyright reasons.
Mesopotamia Photos
