Blencowe Henry T 1890-1953 – Blencowe Family in World War One

Henry Tollerton Blencowe [4349]

Known as Harry

1890-1953

Known as Harry.

Father Nm: John Blencowe [1665] c 2.9. 1866 Banbury; Oldest known ancestor- Thomas Blencowe,1803, Bishops Itchington.

Mother Nm: Ada Clutterbuck [2335] 1868 Banbury.

Marriage Dt: 19 Oct 1918 to Ethel West. Ethel was a munitions worker in Banbury during the war along with at least three related Blencowe women she worked at a large Shell filling factory in Grimsbury.

Kin comments: From a family with strong military commitment.

WW1

Father John served with the 1/4th Bn. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. Brother John served with the Royal Navy.
Uncles Arthur, Reuben and Edward served with the Ox and Bucks. Cousin Albert was killed with the Oxford and Bucks and cousins William served with Royal Engineers, Thomas and Joseph with the DCLI all in WW1.

WW2

Son William John Henry was with the Anti-Tank Regiment and taken POW in Singapore.
Nephew Ronald William was killed with the RASC in North Africa, Brother Edward served with the Royal Garrison Artillery. Brother Ernest served with the Parachute Regiment. Son

Click to enlarge. Note Hilda daughter of John and Ada and Henry Tollerton’s wife Ethel were all munition workers at the Shell filling factory.

Spouse comments: Ethel West [6394] BIRTH ABT 1886 • Hollandridge, Oxon, England
DEATH JUL 1958 • Banbury, Oxfordshire, England

Children: Ethel 1922, William John Henry 1920.

(Research): GR[B] Banbury March 1891 1891 Census, Transcribed Banbury Parish Register.

Born 30 December 1890 (1939 Census)

1891 Census

John Blencowe 25
Ada Blencowe 23
Ada Blencowe 1
Harry Blencowe 3 M

1901 Census 21 Union St Neithrop Banbury

Blencowe John Head Bricklayers Labourer M 1867 Banbury 34
Blencowe John Son M 1900 Banbury 10M
Blencowe Ada Wife F 1869 Banbury 32
Blencowe Ada Dau F 1890 Banbury 11
Blencowe Elsie Dau F 1899 Banbury 2
Blencowe Henry Son M 1891 Banbury 10
Blencowe Mary Dau F 1893 Banbury 8
Blencowe Hilda Dau F 1895 Banbury 6
Blencowe Amy Dau F 1897 Banbury 4


	Royal Garrison Artillery

WW1

Blencowe (Harry) Henry T, 1891, Banbury, Sergeant, 27121, Royal Garrison Artillery.

Pre-war

27 Aug 1907 Enlisted in Army at Banbury for 8+4 years served until July 1919. Was underage and gave the birth year as of 30/12/1888.
30 Aug 1907 joined at Plymouth attested as Gunner 43 Coy RGA.
16 Sept 1907-31 Mar 1912 Gibraltar.
1911 Census Overseas with Army. Blencowe Harry Military Army Gunner M 1889 Banbury 22 “Arabia, Cyprus, And Gibraltar” Overseas Military.
14 Mar 1913 expiration of army service, discharged.

1914

5^th Aug. Re-engaged and posted as a Gunner.

1915

15^th Jan. Promoted to Lance Corporal. And posted to 22 Siege Battery,
12^th Jun. Posted to 42^nd Siege Coy. Made Acting Bombardier.
4^th July. Embarked from Devonport for Egypt.
24^th July. Landed in Alexandria, Egypt with MEF. Medal Roll says 4^th Aug landed Egypt.
5^th Oct. Embarked Alexandria for Gallipoli.
13^th Oct. Disembarked Suvla Bay.
RGA in Gallipoli
Not much found out about the 42 Coy and landing at Suvla Bay in October but here is a glimpse at the hot conditions for gunners
60-pounder of the 90th Heavy Battery, RGA at full recoil, in action near Hill 114.Photo by Ernest Brooks.
31^st Oct. Promoted to Sergeant.
3^rd Dec. Embarked Suvla Bay for Lemnos and landed there on the 4^th Dec. Lemnos a Greek island was used as a rest camp and base for allied troops.

1916

5^th Jan. Admitted to Ismahli Hospital Egypt.
19^th Jan. Rejoined Battery from the hospital.
8^th Apr. Embarked Alexandria for France.
15^th Apr. Disembarked Marseilles.
22nd July 1916 Wounded in Action France.
Switch Trench between Delville and High Wood about 6 km north-east of Carnoy. Map source NZ Embassy Paris.

Harry was most likely wounded near Carnoy (NE), his Siege Battery was bombarding a portion of Switch Trench, East of High Wood, in preparation for the continuance of offensive by 4^th Army.¹ Taken initially no doubt to a Field Ambulance and or Casualty Clearing Station to then on to a hospital in Rouen.
25^th July 1916 Invalided to England on HS Astorious to Netley (Royal Victoria Hospital) Southampton.
8^th Sept. Discharged from Netley Hospital.
29^th Sept. Re-admitted Netley (Royal Victoria Hospital) Southampton.
7^th Nov. Discharged from hospital.
8^th Nov. Posted Harwich Defences.

1918

27^th Sept. promoted A/Corporal.

1919

5^th Feb. Posted to Landguard Fort Felixstowe dispersal station.
5^th Mar. Honourable discharge unfit to serve.

Medals

Awarded 1914-15 Star, British, Victory medals plus the Silver War Badge. Henry entitled to wear at least one wound stripe on his dress uniform as shown below.

Sources

The Great War Forum
National Archives medal records

After the War

1921 Census

6 Bath Road, Banbury

First name(s)	Last name	Relationship to head	Sex	Birth year	Age in years	Birth place	Occupation	Employer
Harry	Blencowe	Head	Male	1891	30	Banbury, Oxfordshire, England	Bricklayer	Kimberleys Builders, Banbury
Ethel	Blencowe	Wife	Female	1884	37	Walton on Thames, London, England	At Home	–
William John Henry	Blencowe	Son	Male	1920	1	Banbury, Oxfordshire, England

1939 Census

94 Warwick Rd., Banbury

FIRST NAME(S)	LAST NAME(S)	DOB	SEX	OCCUPATION	MARITAL STATUS
Henry T	Blencowe	30 Dec 1890	Male	Bricklayers Labourer	Married
Ethel	Blencowe	23 Jun 1884	Female	Unpaid Domestic Duties	Married
William J H	Blencowe	02 Jan 1920	Male	Bricklayers Labourer	Single
Ethel	Mitchinson (Blencoe)	09 Feb 1922	Female	Shop Assistant (Wool Works)	Single
Florence M	Blewncowe (Gregory)	12 Sep 1918	Female	Domestic Servant	Single