Blencowe Richard 1895

Richard Blencowe  [4486]

1895-1962

Father Nm: Thomas William Blincowe [4907]^ born 3.1.1857 Bicester died 1928 St Olave.	Mother Nm: Mary Hannah Green [3337] 1892 nr Greenwich

 

Marriage Dt: 1915 Marriages Jun 1915 Blencowe Richard to Florence G Phillips St. Olave Vol.1d Page 537.

Kin comments:

Father Thomas William served in the Anglo-South African war with the 4th Battalion The West Yorkshire Reg (Price of Wales Own)

WW1: Brother Thomas William served with the 351st Brigade,(Howitzer) Royal Field Artillery. and then served for the Australian Army in WW2. Sister Rose Jane married WW1veteran Arthur Scanlan

WW2: Sister Esther Maria a Laboratory Chemist in Manufacturing was killed on 21st September 1940 in a bombing raid on Llewellyn Street, Bermondsey. Sister May Edith served with the WRAF and brother James served with the Royal Artillery in WW2.

Spouse Comments: 1895-1980.. Florence Gertrude Phillips born 31 January, died 1st Q 1980 Wakefield Yorks.

Children:  Richard H T 1916, Ethel F 1919, Constance 1922, Edna M 1924, Richard J 1927, Eunice E 1928, Grace Evelyn 1931 and Evelyn W 1932.

(Research): GR[B] St Olaves March 1895.

Born 1895

24 January 1895, Rotherhithe

1901 Census 23 Clarence Street (now Canon Beck Road) Rotherhithe

1. Blencoe Mary Wife F 1864 Greenwich 36
2. Blencoe May Dau F 1897 Rotherhithe 4
3. Blencoe Richard Son M 1895 Rotherhithe 6
4. Blencoe Rose Dau F 1898 Rotherhithe 3
5. Blencoe Thomas Head General labourer Gasworks M 1857 Bicester 44
6. Blencoe Thomas Son M 1894 Greenwich 7
7. Blencoe John Son M 1900 Rotherhithe 1

1911 Census (Bermondsey) London

1. Blencowe Esther Dau 4 St Olave
2. Blencowe Florence Dau 8 St Olave
3. Blencowe James Son 6 St Olave
4. Blencowe Mary Hannah Wife 47 St Olave
5. Blencowe May Dau 14 St Olave
6. Blencowe Richard Son 16 St Olave
7. Blencowe Rose Dau F St Olave
8. Blencowe Thomas Head 54 St Olave
9. Blencowe Thomas Son 17 St Olave

1915

• 3 April. Richard a Clerk age 22 marries Florence age 21 both of Hawkestone Road Nos 39 and 21.

East Surrey Regiment	Labour Corps

WW1

Blencowe Richard, 1895, Rotherhithe, Corporal, Colour Sergeant, 12766, 66015, 12^th Bn. East Surrey Regiment, Labour Corps.

Synopsis

Using an estimate of his serial number, it’s probable that Richard enlisted in 1915 after April when he married Florence. Number 12700 enlisted 1915 at Rotherhithe with the 12^th Bn. Another man with a number very close to Richard’s (12762) enlisted with 12^th Bn. which was formed in Bermondsey (Richards local area) and it seems likely this was Richards battalion. The medal roll sheet confirms the East Surrey’s regiment however the Medal Roll says West Surrey’s which is likely a mistake given the enlistment area. The Medal role does show that Richard was a Corporal with the Surrey regiment during the medal period but seems he was promoted after the end of the war. The photo above evidence that he was wearing the East Surrey’s cap when a Staff Sergeant and seems likely taken in 1918/1919 as a wound strip was sewn on his uniform. We do know Richard was wounded at Delville Wood in 1916  and invalided to England  His transfer to the Labour Corps is estimated by serial number to be Sept. 1918.

Note: A transfer to the Labour Corps was often made to men who were wounded or sick, indeed he is wearing a wound stripe on his left sleeve and so may have had been incapacitated.

The movements of the 12^th Battalion East Surrey’s

Formed at Bermondsey on 14 May 1915 by the Mayor and Borough.

Moved to Witley in October 1915 and came under orders of 122^nd Brigade in 41st Division.

Moved to Marlborough Lines (Aldershot) in February 1916.

1916

• 2^nd May. Landed at Le Havre.
• 4^th-28^th May. Marched to Billets at Outersteene stayed there until 29^th.
• 29th May -4^th Jun. In trenches Ploegsteert. Map ref 28SW U27 Convent.
• 11-16^th Jun. In trenches Ploegsteert. Map ref 28SW U27 Convent. Some shelling, machine-gun fire and one gas alert but no casualties.
• 17^th-23^rd Jun. Relieved to billets Soyer Farm shelled on the 23^rdand 4 casualties.
• 24-30^th Jun. In trenches Ploegsteert.
  • 27-29^th Jun. Enemy shelled position heavily
  • 30^thJun. Heavy exchange of artillery fire and gas. Casualties for the month 14 killed 25 wounded.
• 1-7^thJul. In Billets at Grand Monque Farmmap ref 28SW T24.
• 8-15^thJul. In new trenches north of Ploegsteert Wood. Commanding Officer wounded and evacuated.
• 16^thJul-2^ndAug. In Billets.
• 3^rd-9^th Aug. Moved to new trenches map ref SW28 U28 C. Quiet time.
• 10-15^th Aug.In Billets
• 15^thAug. Moved to La Creche, then to Meteren, and onto Fletre.
• 18-22^ndAug in billets Thieushouck
• 23^rd-24^th Aug. Entrained Bailleul for Longpre and then marched to billets at Mouflers
• 24-29^th Aug. In billets Mouflers
• 29th Aug. Moved to 4th Army Trench warfare school Flixecourt.
• 30^th Aug – 5^th Sept. Billets at Mouflers
• 6^th Sept. Entrained at Longpre for Mericourt and on arrival marched to L’Abbe.
• 11-13^th Sept. Camp in the vicinity of Fricourt map ref F.14.a
• 14-15^th Sept. Battle of Delville Wood.  Wounded .Took up battle position NW of Delville Wood.    

• 15^th Sept. The Bn. advanced at 6:15 am and took the enemy’s 1^st and 2^nd line. Although it suffered heavy casualties losing nearly all its officers it continued to advance to about 182m in front of Flers and occupied enemy trenches there. casualties 16 Officers and 256 OR’s of which Richard was one.he is recorded with Gunshot wounds to Chest and Shoulder

  

• Treated most likely at a Casualty Clearing Station then sent by Ambulance train to Rouen.
• Admitted to No 1 Australian General Hospital

  

• 25th Sept. Invalided to England .

Note: It’s not known how long Richard was in hospital and convalescence in England but he likely did not return to the front line see explanation later of group photo he appears in.

Sometime in 1918-1919

This group photo includes Richard left with a puppy on his lap. He a colour sergeant with one wound stripe and importantly 2 service chevrons indicating that he was overseas only in 1915-1916 until he was wounded and presumably served in England the balance of the war. He is also wearing a ‘mourning black button” but I can’t identify who this would be for. The men were all Sergeants (Richard a colour sergeant) probably on an Army course or something similar. Note the men of different regiments, Richard wearing the badge of the East Kents.

At this point, it is believed that Richard was transferred to the Labour Corps. He could have been wounded in the month of July or Aug at Clytte but this would be speculation unless a casualty record can be discovered.

Sources

1. 12^th Battalion East Surrey’s war diary
2. No 1 Australian General Hospital
3. Photographs from descendant Alan Blencowe of Perth.

Medals

Awarded the British and Victory medals and as a Corporal with 12 East Surreys ie for the period 1915-1916. Entitled to wear one wound stripe as per the photo above. and two service chevrons.

After the War

1921 Census

St Olave Bermondsey
Richard Blencowe
Florence G Blencowe
Ethel F Blencowe
Gertrude Blencowe

1939 census

159 Bromley Kent Reigate Road, Bromley Kent, Hither Green, Lewisham

Richard Blencowe 24 Jan 1895 Male Manager Shipping Export Department
Florence G Blencowe 31 Jan 1895 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 99 2
Ethel F Kent (Blencowe) 04 Nov 1919 Female Clerk Typist Lloyds Single 99 3

Not recorded but likely at the address Constance 1922, Edna M 1924, Richard J 1927, Eunice E 1928, Grace Evelyn 1931 and Evelyn W 1932.

Eight children all born in London and Richard and Florence appear in Electoral Registers living at 159 Pendragon Rd Lewisham from 1945-1960

Richard and Florence appear to then have moved to Wakefield in Yorkshire as Richard dies there in 1962. and his widow Florence in 1980.

1962 death age 67 years

Registration district: Wakefield, Yorkshire West Riding, Volume: 2d Page: 496

Probate 1962 

 

GALLERY

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