Blencowe George W 1890 – Blencowe Family in World War One

George William Blencowe [10484]

1890-1942

Father Nm: William George Blencow [3832] born 14.1.1865 (Buckingham M.Q.) c 26.3.1865 Gawcott died 17.3.1940 Mulholland N.Y. : Oldest known ancestor John Blinco 1798 England.

Mother Nm: Grace Irene Blodgett [8413] born 22.2.1865 died 30.3.1923 m 25.12.1888

Marriage Dt:14 Apr 1920, Marriage Place: Painted Post, New York, USA

K comments: Brother John Elmer served with the 312^th Infantry two other brothers Hubert and Bertram drafted but probably didn’t serve.

Spouse: Ethel May Atwood annulled (underage).

Child: Jeanette Blencowe (Boncer).

1900 Census Erwin, Steuben, New York

William Blincowe 35
Grace Blincowe 34
George Blincowe 9
Eva Blincowe 8
John Blincowe 6
Philip Blincowe 4
Bertram Blincowe 2
Hubert Blincowe 7/12

GW and sister mom cropped — George sitting and sister Vieva with what maybe is Mother. Photo kindly supplied by Joyce Blencowe Gould

1915 Census Corning, Steuben, New York

George Blencowe, 25 Servant,


	59^th Pioneer Infantry Helmet

In what is one of the more curious symbols for an Infantry unit the 59^th Pioneers adopted the Swastika long before the Nazis did. In WW2 this symbol for the 59^th was replaced.

WW1

Blencowe George William, 1890, Painted Post NY, Private, 3673940, 59^th Infantry

1918

23^rd Jul. Inducted in Corning NY to 153 Depot Brigade which was likely a training brigade.
6^th Aug. Transferred to 59^th Pioneer Infantry. George’s rank Pioneer, which was in the US Army a soldier employed to perform engineering tasks. The term is in principle similar to Royal Engineers Sapper. George joined this regiment as it was brought to full strength. ¹
31^st Aug. Embarked overseas on troopship SS Leviathan the voyage took 7 days and on 8^th Sept. 1918, the men disembarked to the French coast at Brest. The 59^th were assigned to be part of the 1st Army initially in the St Mihiel area.¹
14^th Sept. The 59^th shipped by rail on a three-day journey through the lovely French farm country, they passed through …. some of the most scenic parts of France with valleys and hills until finally stopping at a village called Foulain, Dept. Haute-Marne. While at Foulain, the 59^th lost two men to disease, who fell victim within a few days. Spanish influenza which had begun in the Spring in the training camps would emerge in the autumn and winter with even more strength. ¹
From the American Armies and Battlefields in Europe 1938
26^th Sept- 31^st Oct. Verdun. The Battle of Meuse Argonne. The offensive began around 27^th Sept. most of the 59^th Regiment was sent towards the front from Foulain during the Argonne offensive. Their war had begun in earnest. It would be relatively brief, as the armistice was only some six weeks in the future. George’s Company ‘I’ was designated with Companies C, D, and M to work on water supply, building and reservoirs, treatment plants and pipelines. ‘I’ Company was based at Les Islettes, Dept. Marne. The Third Battalion, Companies I, K, L, and M, did its work in the Argonne Forest at the height of the battle, building their water and railway systems under almost continuous air raids and shell fire, including gas shells. ¹
Map from the A

Note: The brothers George W and John E Blencowe were both in the Argonne Forest in October, most likely after the war, these were times remembered from the war together.

1919

After Christmas 1918, the 59^th Infantry was assigned to recover German munitions. Tragically on January 22^nd 1919 Wilmington soldiers Thomas Davis, Harvey Hadley, Howard Johnson, and John Chandler and three soldiers from George’s Company ‘I’ were killed in a mine explosion in Rehon, near Toul France.¹

5^th Jul. The 59^th entrained for Brest, they decamped from Camp Pontanegen, Brest on July 27 and boarded the Leviathan. Arrived 5th July at Hoboken, NY. USA
10^th Jul. At Camp Dix Coy. “I” Coy was demobilised.
7^th Aug. George was given an honourable discharge.

Sources

Extracts from The 59^th Pioneer Infantry Regiment by Brig. Gen. Kennard R. Wiggins Jr.
The American Armies and Battlefields in Europe in 1938.

Medals

George would have been awarded the US Victory Medal and clasp for France. The French Government issued a medal for those that served in the Meuse-Argonne battle, the medal ribbon and US ribbon is shown. William was also likely to get the State of New York service medal.

After the War

1920-30 Census Erwin Steuben, New York

George W Blencowe Labourer railroad.

1922 Marriage Annulment and Law Case

After the war, it seems George ran on the wrong side of the law as he married Ethel Atwood (under age) and was subsequently prosecuted for what happened. losing his wife and daughter Jeannette. This may be a clue to later events when he was admitted with what could have been PTSD. Also, see the circumstances of death.

Residence Place: Hornby, Steuben
Relationship: Nephew Occupation Farm Hand.
Joseph Blencowe 43
Block Blencowe 44
George Blencowe 35

1932 Bath, New York

George W Blencowe, “United States, National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938”. Bath, New York, United States, age: 42 birthplace: New York, estimated birth year: 1890.

A Medical Examination states disabilities after the war as dental disease and P.T. condition. Is this post-trauma? ie PTSD.

1940 Census living with brother John Elmer in Erwin, Steuben, New York

John E Blencowe 46 Relation to Head of House: Head
George W Blencowe 49

9th Sept.1942 Death

Tragically George is hit by a train while walking on the track.

From the Corning Evening leader newspaper 16 Sept. 1942

The U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 about George W Blencowe, Name: George W Blencowe, Birth Date: 1 Jul 1890, Death Date: 9 Sept 1942.