Blencowe Randal J 1892

Randal John Blencowe [4385]

1892-1968  [4385]

Father Nm: Henry Blincowe [3740] c 10.10.1859 Bicester died 3.7.1941 in Woodstock Oxon Oldest known Ancestor – William Blincoe 1702 Bicester.

Mother Nm: Bertha Ann Bunker [6260] 1862-1939.

Marriage Dt: 1924,  Florence Gwendoline Webley, Woodstock, Volume 3A Page 2914.

K Comments: Wife Florence served as a Red Cross Nurse in WW2

Spouse Comments: Florence Gwendoline Webley 1901- 1978.

Children: June R 1926, Michael J. 1934, Diana 1938, Norma 1940, Susan 1944.

(Research): GR[B] Buckingham March 1892 Bicester Parish, Register* GR[D] Chipping Norton vol 6B p1433 March 1968.

1901 Census North Lodge, Glympton, Woodstock, Oxon.

1. Blencowe Harry 40 House Decorator (Painting)
2. Blencowe Bertha 40
3. Blencowe Florence 11
4. Blencowe Mabel 4
5. Blencowe Randell J 9

1911 Census Glympton, Woodstock, Oxon.

1. Blencowe Harry 50 Plumber and Painter on Estate
2. Blencowe Bertha 50
3. Blencowe Florence 21 sub Post Office Clerk
4. Blencowe Mabel 14
5. Blencowe Randell J 19 Groom.

Army Service Corps

WW1

Blencowe Randal John, 1892, Twyford, Bucks, Private M2/081453. Royal Army Service Corps.

Note; M2 in serial number designates Army Service Corps Motor Unit.

Before the war, the Blencowe family including Randal lived on the Glympton Estate own by George Henry Barnett. They worked for the estate and in 1911 census Randal is a Groom. At the outbreak of the war, he was selected for the ASC and had the rank of Private. It’s possible given his background he was a horse carer or driver.  As a driver, duties beside actual horse driving were loading/unloading transport vehicles and other such duties. The ASC had approx 380,000 men at the rank of Private in WW1 so a lot of labouring roles for essentially a non-combatant support unit.

1915

• Probably enlisted in May 1915 based on the serial number.
• 16^th Jul. Landed France.
• While on the western front Randall was in carrying out his ASC role placed in very dangerous positions, he obviously did this to an unexpected level of bravery as he was for these action(s)  recognised by senior command and awarded a mention in despatches oak leaf.
• A typical activity on the western front for ASC, for instance, was water delivery. This example below is in a quiet less dangerous situation to say delivering to the trenches essential supplies.
  Pure water is pumped into a water cart after treatment by the de-poisoning and sterilizing plant of No. 2 Water Tank Company ASC (attached to the 718th Motor Transport Company, Army Service Corps). Auxi, 7 June 1918.

. THE BRITISH ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 © IWM (Q 8891)

• In the front line for four years Randall almost certainly experienced battle after battle. Here a line of ASC trucks is on the Somme.

  

1919

• 19^th Feb. Discharged to Z Class reserves.

War Medals

Awarded the Victory Medal with Oak Leaf, the 1914-15 Star and British Medal. 

Randal’s Medal card indicates that he was awarded and sent in 1921 the Emblem ie an Oakleaf for being Mentioned in Despatches. This was gazetted on 8^th July 1919 and was under a general announcement so we do not know for what action or when this award was deemed earned. Coincidentally in the Gazetted entry listed right above Randal is 2^nd Cousin James Aubrey Blencowe their common ancestors being James Blinker 1789-1875 and Judith Mortimore.

After the War

1921 Census

1939 Census

Kings Arms Hostel, Woodstock,, Oxfordshire

Randall S Blencowe (Bencowe) 09 Feb 1890 Male Hotel Licensee Married
Florence G Blencower (Renecowe) 09 Jun 1901 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married

Note three children not shown underage

Hotel workers and Guests

Percy H Heiberg 08 Oct 1897 Male Domestic Butler Married 96 6
Reginald J G Ford 26 Mar 1898 Male Kitchen Porter Single 96 7
Frederick G Dixon 03 Feb 1917 Male Kitchen Porter Single 96 8
Stephen Champ 06 Jan 1879 Male Public School Married 96 9
Dora G Champ 17 Jun 1879 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 96 10
Annie N Holt 27 Jun 1914 Female Sewing Maid Married 96 11
George Holt 23 Jun 1911 Male Hotel Porter Married 96 12
Ainslie G Pendrey 14 Sep 1912 Male Valet (Private Service) Single 96 13
Thomas Pilsbury 05 Nov 1881 Male Forrester Married 96 14
John A D Gibbins 04 Dec 1906 Male Chauffeur Mechanic Married 96 15
Maureen B Hurley 23 Dec 1908 Female Personal Maid Single 96 16
Harold H Young 13 Jul 1911 Male Valet (Domestic) Married 96 17
Cyril E H Clements 31 Jul 1907 Male Valet (Domestic) Married 96 18

Randal and Florence had children in Chipping Norton (last child born in 1944) so stayed in the same area until death.

Death 1968 Chipping Norton age 74

GALLERY

Note: there are 3 records that exist for this man that is not shown in the Gallery for copyright reasons.