Blencowe Margaret P 1890

Margaret Penelope Blencowe  [4325]
1890-1966

Father Nm: John Ingham Blencowe 1860-1946 Oldest known Ancestor – Thomas Blencowe 1475 Marston St Lawrence.

Mother Nm: Mabel Frances Ingram 1861-1945.

Marriage Dt:1920 at Kensington Volume 1A Page 429.

Kin comments: Father John Ingham served with Sussex Yeomanry, Mother Mabel Frances was a VAD Nurse, Uncle Robert Campion Aunt Frances Isabel also served in the war with distinction. Sons Phillip and John served in WW2 with the KRRC. Husband John Arthur Stuart was a Lieutenant, Major with the Royal Engineers, Airline Section in WW1. He rose to colonel in the REs in WW2.

Spouse Comments: John Arthur Stuart Tillard.

Husband:  John Arthur Stuart was a Lieutenant Major with the Royal Engineers, Airline Section in WW1. He rose to Colonel in the Ministry of Supply in WW2.

Children: Phillip B 1923, John R Tillard 1924, Patricia Susan 1928.

(Research):GR[M] Lewes March 1888 or 1889 vol 2b p 243 [or1899] Monumental Inscription[KenToll].

1891 Census Court House, Chailey Sussex
  1. John Ingham Blencowe 30
  2. Mabel Frances Blencowe 29
  3. Margaret P Blencowe 1
  4. Eliza Bryant 22
  5. Ada Markwick 22
  6. Emily C Tenner 23
1901 Census Pelham House St Michaels Lewes
  1. John J Blencowe 40
  2. Mabel F Blencowe 39
  3. Margaret P Blencowe 11
  4. Thoas A Ingram 19
  5. Eliza Bryant 32
  6. Amelia Gander 57
  7. Mary A Wilkins 27
  8. Charlotte S Willian 33
  9. Lily Barnard 32

Voluntary Aid Detachment
Voluntary Aid Detachment
WW1

Blencowe Margaret Penelope, Probationer, Voluntary Aid Detachment.

Margaret’s aunt, Frances Isabel Blencowe was commandant of the detachment early in 1914 and after the war had ended. She was also commandant of Brook House on Chailey Green, a convalescent hospital for RFC officers.

Margaret standing far left middle row with Aunt Frances Isabel sitting. Mother Mabel may well also be in this photo.

Nothing is known of Margaret’s VAD service. She appears in a number of photos taken by Frances and the photographer Foster Ditchling, but her service history remains unclear. She is noted simply as “nurse” in an un-named and undated newspaper cutting which is pasted into Edith Oliver’s album and that is probably how most of her soldier patients would have known her.

As a Probationer Margaret would not have had nurse training.

1915
  • Nov. Hickwells Convalescence Home. Certainly, Margaret seems to have been tagging along with Aunt Frances as this photo attests from 1915.
Right, patients and staff snapped by Nurse Edith Oliver outside Hickwells in 1915.  Nurse Frances Blencowe stands on the left, and her niece, Nurse Margaret Penelope Blencowe stands on the right.  In the centre stands Sussex 54 VAD Commandant Miss Susan Margaret Cotesworth.  Seated on the bench, second from right, is the Matron, Miss Emily Marshall.  The soldier next to her appears to be recovering from frostbite or trench-foot.
Right, patients and staff snapped by Nurse Edith Oliver outside Hickwells 1915.  Nurse Frances Blencowe stands on the left, and her niece, Nurse Margaret Penelope Blencowe stands on the right.  In the centre stands Sussex 54 VAD Commandant Miss Susan Margaret Cotesworth.  Seated on the bench, second from right, is the Matron, Miss Emily Marshall.  The soldier next to her appears to be recovering from frostbite or trench foot.
Sources
  1. Paul Nixon for the research and great amount of material that he has collected on the Sussex 54 VAD and Frances I Blencowe in particular at the Chailey Blog.
  2. Sue Light who has contributed to this profile of VAD nursing.
Medals

Red cross
Margaret was most likely awarded the Red Cross Medal.

Note: The medal was awarded to members of the British Red Cross or its voluntary aid detachments who served in the UK between 4 August 1914 and 31 December 1919 and were therefore not eligible for British military medals. Those who were eligible had to undertake at least 1,000 hours of unpaid service or be ambulance drivers and bearers who gave 500 hours unpaid service. No diploma was issued with the medal and it was not an official decoration. Between 41,000 and 42,000 were awarded.

After the War

1920 married Jon R Tillard and had three children.

1939 Census,Penchers Hill , Chailey R.D., Sussex, EnglandScreen Shot 2016-02-19 at 12.45.47 pm

John I Blencowe 15 Dec 1860 Male Justice Of The Peace
Mabel F Blencowe 27 Aug 1861 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
Margaret E Ingram 13 Feb 1863 Female Private Means Single

1966 Death Age 76

Lewes, Volume 5H Page 475.

GALLERY

 

CHAILEY MEMORIAL 2
The unveiling ceremony of Chailey’s war memorial in October 1920.Again highly likely that John and rest of the family attended this function
Chailey Group - Frances far right at back looking away from the camera
Chailey Group – Frances far right at back looking away from the camera
The family home at the Hooke Chailey
Chailey House
Discharged Chailey soldiers 1912
Newick and Chailey Branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers at their wind-up supper outside The King’s Head, Chailey on July 12th 1921. It is possible John Ingram Blencowe may have attended and even in this photo as many unidentified
Chailey 54 VAD group
Chailey 54 VAD group