Blencowe Harry J 1891

Harry James Blencowe    [4359]

1891-1976

Father’s Name: John William 18 Nov 1849 Banbury, died 1930 Kidderminster.; Oldest Known Ancestor – William Blencowe Stoney Stratford 1780.

Mother Nm: Mary Jones 1850-1917. BIRTH 1850 • Clun, Salop, England
DEATH APR 1917 • Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England

Marriage 1: Marriage Dt:1913 to Frances Crisp, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Volume Number: 6c Page Number: 125.

Marriage 2: 18 Mar 1916 to Gladys Somerfield at St Georges Church Kidderminster.

Kidderminster, Volume Number: 6c, Page Number: 132.

Kin Comments: Brother Charles Albert served with the Canadian Mounted Rifles and the British Tank Corps. Brother John William served with Army Services Corps. Brother

Spouse comments: Frances Beatrice Crisp 1891-1914, Gladys May Somerfield 1893-1958.

Children: Ada Pamela Mary 1921, George Murray 1924.

1901 Census 110 Chester Rd Kidderminster

1. John Blencowe 57
2. Mary Blencowe 51
3. Agnes M Blencowe 18
4. George R Blencowe 14
5. Harry J Blencowe 9
6. Charles A Blencowe 7

1903

Harry won a scholarship to Worcester Grammar School

1911 Census Chase Lane, Ross, Herefordshire

1. Blencowe Harry Boarder Banker, Bank Official, Clerk M 1886 Kidderminster 25

1913

• Jun Quarter. Married Frances Beatrice Crisp at Kidderminster.

1914

• Dec Quarter. Frances Beatrice dies.

 

WW1

Blencowe Harry James, 1891, Kidderminster, Sergeant, 31608, 9047, 579913, 28^th Bn. Royal Fusiliers, 21st Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, 13^th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, Labour Corps.

A long war for Harry fought twice in France 1916-17 and 1918 and in Italy 1917-18, he did well to come out relatively unscathed.

1915

• 11^th Nov. Enlisted at Stourbridge in the 28th Royal Fusiliers attached to University and Public Schools Reserve Battalion. The address was given as 12 Coventry St Kidderminster. Occupation Clerk. Status Widower

1916

• 24^th Jun. Transferred to 3^rd Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers
• 14^th Jul. Transferred to 21^st Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, Embarked to France from Folkestone to Boulogne. Posted to 31 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples (The IBD was a holding camp. Situated within easy distance of one the Channel ports, it received men on arrival from England and kept them in training while they awaited posting to a unit at the front.)

• 27^th July Attached to the 13^th Durham LI. 68th Brigade in 23^rd Division.
• 27^thAug. Appointed Lance Corporal
• 28^th Sept.- 9^th Oct. Influenza.  Admitted to 3^rd Canadian Field Ambulance and then 2^nd Canadian Field Ambulance at Vadencourt. Moved to 8^th Canadian FA at Val-de-Maison before back to duty. Harry missed the action of 7^th Oct. at the Battle of Le Transloy.

1917

• 7^th-14^th Jun. The Battle of Messines Ridge. While the 23^rd Division was involved in this battle it’s not clear what role the 13^th Bn. had in the action.
• 15^th Jul. Appointed unpaid Corporal.
• 4^th Aug. Appointed unpaid Sergeant.
• 13^th Sept. Permanently transferred to 13th Bn. Durham LI and promoted to Lance Corporal.
• 20–25^th Sept. Menin Road Ridge. This was the third attack by the British Army during the Third Battle of Ypres.
  • The 23^rd Division was held up for a short time by a German strongpoint in Dumbarton Wood, which had been missed by the barrage and caused many casualties. Despite the delay and the difficulty of navigating through clouds of dust and smoke, caused by the barrage and the marshy ground north of Dumbarton Lake, the first objective was reached a few minutes after the barrage and consolidated along with the source of the Bassevillebeek. ³

    

  • The 23^rd Division had to fight forward through pill-boxes hidden in ruined cottages along the Menin Road, concrete shelters in Veldhoek and a hedgerow in front of it before the German garrisons retreated. The left brigade was held up by a dozen pill-boxes in the Wilhelm (third) Line until noon, which caused the division many losses but the ground at the final objective proved to be dry enough for the troops to dig in. ³ The 23^rd Division captured Veldhoek.

• 26^th Sept. – 3^rd Oct. Polygon Wood. While the 23^rd Division was involved in this battle it’s not clear what role the 13^th Bn. had in the action
• 12^th Oct. The First Battle of Passchendaele. While the 23^rd Division was involved in this battle it’s not clear what role the 13^th Bn. had in the action.
• Nov. The 13^th Bn. moved to Italy As part of the 23^rd Division. It completed concentration between Mantua and Marcaria on 16 November and took over the front line at the Montello on 4 December.

1918

• 20^th Jan. Reverted to Private at own request.

  

• 12^th Feb. Gladys sends a letter to the Army 23^rd Div. in Italy. but the Army notations indicate that Harry had transferred at some point to the Labour Corps. We do know that four weeks prior to this letter (ie the beginning of 1918) she had received communication from him in Italy. (She has his Italian address). The actual date of Harry’s transfer to the Labour Corps is destroyed in the records we have. I note that at discharge Harry’s medical grade is B2 possibly indicating wounds or illness.

1919

• 12^th Mar. Discharged to 7 Fairfield, Kidderminster.

Sources

1. Long Long Trail
2. War Time Memories
3. Wikipedia

Medals

Awarded the British and Victory medals.

Notes:

1. 28^th and 29^th (Reserve) Battalions Formed in Epsom in August 1915 as Reserve battalions, from depot companies of the four Public Schools Bn.s. 1 September 1916: converted into 104^th and 105^th Training Reserve Battalions in 24^th Reserve Brigade.

After the War

1921 Census

Rosemont Evesham Rd, Stratford-On-Avon

Harry James	Blencowe	Head	Male	1891	30	Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England	Cashier	Warwickshire Farmer Ltd, Stratford On Avon
Gladys May	Blencowe	Wife	Female	1893	27	Sheffield, Yorkshire, England	Home Duties	–
Ada Pamela Mary	Blencowe	Daughter	Female	1921	–	Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, England	–	–
Ernest William	Jellyman	Boarder	Male	1887	33	Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, England	Rope Maker	Own Account
Ethel Annie	Jellyman	Boarder	Female	1886	35	Bermondsey, London, England	Home Duties	–

Emigrated to USA via Canada last known address Stratford upon Avon England

Crossed Canadian to New York City USA 1946 see images of records

Address to which they went 1634 W, 7^th St Brooklyn NY

Occupation: Accountant

1925

• 1 January. Harry and all the family depart Southampton for a visit to USA with most likely the intention being that Harry was to get a job.  Tthey arrive in New York on the 12 January.  Note Gladys brother George lives in Connecticut and was probably a sponsor.

All four members of the family on the passenger list, Arrival Date: 12 Jan 1925, Birth Date: abt 1892, Birth Location: England, Birth Location Other: Kidderminster, Age: 33, Ethnicity/ Nationality: English, Port of Departure: Southampton, England, Port of Arrival: New York, New York, Ship Name: SS Antonia

1930 Census

1634 W, 7th St Brooklyn NY

Harry 38 Auditor newspaper

Harry Blencoe Head Married Male 38 1892 England
Gladys Blencoe Wife Married Female 36 1894 England
Palma Blencoe Daughter Single Female 9 1921 England
Murray Blencoe Son Single Male 6 1924 England
Sam Maldon Roomer Single Male 31 1899 Russia

1942

The U.S., World War II Draft Registration did not serve.

1946

Harry was working for the British Air Commission which was set up in the USA after World War II broke out to administer the placing of orders with US industry for aircraft, engines and aviation equipment. It arranged the shipment of material initially to the UK and later to other ports in Africa and Asia.

1948 Accident

• 7 Jul. It seems Harry was hit by a car on a trip to Birmingham England his old home town. His brother A ? likely Charles Albert also on a visit to GB.

• October. A few months later after the accident, Harry returns home. Harry James Blencowe British born arrived on 20 Oct in New York on board Plane # F. Baz J

Death 1976

DEATH 23/08/1976 • Contra Costa County, California, USA.

Obituary

GALLERY

Note: There are 17 records that exist for this man that is not shown in the Gallery for copyright reasons.