Blencowe Harry 1899 – Blencowe Family in World War One

Harry Blencowe [4622]

1899-1954

Father Nm: Charles (Leonard) Blencowe [3087] [6007] born 2 May 1869 died 1956 Whitchurch Shrops ; Oldest Known Ancestor William Blincow abt 1702 Bicester.

Mother Nm: Margaret Winifred O’Hara [10799] 1868-1948.

Marriage Dt:1920; Jun 1920 to Edith Alice Skitt, Whitchurch Vol. 6a Page 2214.

Kin comments: WW1: Harry was one of six brothers who served; Thomas William with the South Staffs, Albert Edward and Francis with the Kings Shropshire LI, Percy Driver RHA died of wounds 1917, and George with the Somerset LI.

WW2: Son Dennis James was killed at Arnhem in 1944 whilst with the RAF. Son Robert Harry was a Sergeant in the RAF during WW2 and was later awarded an MBE. Niece Justina served withe WAAF, Nephews John Leonard Manchester Regt., Francis Jesse Royal Artillery, Bryan Henry served with Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Spouse comments: Edith Alice Skitt b. 1896 Wem, Salop. d. 1979 Salop.

Children: Robert Harry 1920, Katherine M 1921, Dennis James 1923, Cyril P 1926, Terence Charles 1930 and Dorothy W 1933.

(Research): GR[B] Whitchurch Sept 1899 JD, GR[D] Whitchurch vol 9a p 249 June 1954.

1901 Census 43 Yardington St, Whitchurch

Blencowe Albert Son 7
Blencowe Charles Head Baker & Confectioner 31
Blencowe Charles Son 6
Blencowe Francis Son 5
Blencowe George Son 3
Blencowe Harry Son 1
Blencowe Catherine Dau 8
Blencowe Margaret Wife Bread Maker 31
Blencowe Percy Son 4
Blencowe William Son 9

1911 Census 30 Bargates The Gray Hound Whitchurch Shropshire

Blencowe Albert Son Apprentice Plumber 17
Blencowe Charles Head Baker 42
Blencowe Charles Son Errand Boy Saddlers 16
Blencowe Frank Son Post Office Telegraph Messenger 15
Blencowe George Son 13
Blencowe Harry Son 12
Blencowe Kate Servant Hospital Worker 19
Blencowe Percy Son 14
Blencowe William Son Labourer Iron Foundry 18


Online War Photo Album	Kings Shropshire Light Infantry	South Lancashire Regiment

Royal Inniskilling Regiment	Royal Fusiliers

WW1

Blencowe Harry, 1899, Whitchurch, Shropshire, 4205, 44785, 49702, GS/112435, 3/4^th Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, 4^th and 8^th Bn. South Lancashire Regiment, 2^nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Royal Fusiliers.

1915

Enlisted 11 Oct 1915 but discharged as was under age although it took the Army until 29^th December 1915 to discover it. This, however, didn’t deter Harry as he must have made his way early in 1916 to the recruitment Office for the South Lancs. Regiment. Only the 1916 service onwards is recorded in the Medal Index and Roll.

From The Long, Long Trail The British Army in the Great War, 1914-1918. forum.

” His Royal Fusiliers number would, I suggest, be for either 43rd or 44th (Garrison) Battalions (I favour the latter). These were formed… in France in May and September 1918 from Garrison Guard Companies, for duty at the five Army HQ’s and manned by troops who had been rated as medically unfit for front line duty, hence the transfer from the Royal Innis Fusiliers.”

1916

The South Lancs. serial number 44754 enlisted Dec 1915 so this is a good indicator that Harry first joined up in Dec 1915 or early 1916 as a Territorial. We do not have the periods that Harry was with the 4^{th and}8^th South Lancs. but he was transferred to the 2^nd Royal Innis. Regt. on the 6^th Apr. 1918. What we can say is that he was in combat of the Western front and likely was wounded once or more. He appears wounded or sick with the Royal Inniskilling Regt. in the Dublin record office of that regiment, date unknown.

1918

6^th Apr. Transferred from 8^th Bn. South Lancs from Gibraltar to 2^nd Bn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers France. Using Medal Roll and service records of John Turner who had the same units and similar number 49707. The 2^nd RIFR was now part of the 36^th Ulster Division.
Harry was transferred just after the battle for St Quentin in March but he most likely was involved in the following battles
The Actions at the Somme Crossings+
The Battle of Rosieres+
+ the battles marked + are phases of the First Battles of the Somme 1918
The Battle of Messines++
The Battle of Bailleul++
The First Battle of Kemmel Ridge++

++ the battles marked ++ are phases of the Battles of the Lys

Note: Sometime in 1918, Harry was invalided to Ireland he is shown to be in Dublin on a sick or wounded army record.

Hard to read as damaged but admitted to Con? Dublin Records office no date assumed 1918. Spelling Blencoe instead of Blencowe.

1919

Transferred sometime between 1918 and 1919 to Royal Fusiliers.
Discharged possibly after 1919.

After the War

1921 Census

Living at 26 Bargates, Whitehouse Salop a General labourer at the Royal Engineers Bettisfield Park Camp

First name(s)	Last name	Relationship to head	Sex	Birth year	Age in years	Birth place	Occupation	Employer
Harry	Blencowe	Head	Male	1899	21	Whitchurch, Shropshire, England	General Labourer	R E Bettisfield Park Camp
Edith Alice	Blencowe	Wife	Female	1897	24	Wem, Shropshire, England	Home Duties	–
Robert Harry	Blencowe	Son	Male	1920	–	Weston, Shropshire, England	–	–
Frances Marion	Skitt	Visitor	Female	1899	22	Prees Green, Shropshire, England	General Domestic Servant, Out Of Work	Private, Norton
Joan Marion	Skitt	Daughter	Female	1920	–	Whitchurch, Shropshire, England	–