Blencowe Thomas H 1896

Thomas Henry Blencowe  [4521]

9 Jan 1896-1979

Father Nm: Henry Blincowe [1954] c 25.9.1854 Souldern Oxon : Oldest known ancestor – Thomas Blencowe C1769 Brackley.

Mother Nm: Louisa Bryan [6101] born 1865 Dalbury Lees

Marriage Dt: 1924,Spouse Surname: Nellie Hackman,Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1924,Registration district: Burton,Staffordshire,Volume Number: 6b,Page Number: 479.

K comments: Brother Joseph Frederick served with the Leicestershire Regiment.

Spouse comments: Ellen ‘Nellie’ Hackman 1897-1978.

Children:

(Research):GR[B] Burton March 1896 GR[D] E Staffs vol 30 p 0657 June 1979.

Birth 9 Jan 1896 Burton Upon Trent Staffs

1901 Census Horninglow Staffs

1. Blencowe Sarah Dau F 1890 Burton Upon Trent 11
2. Blencowe Lizzie Dau F 1892 Burton Upon Trent 9
3. Blencowe Joseph Son M 1900 Burton Upon Trent 7m
4. Blencowe Hannah Dau F 1898 Burton Upon Trent 3
5. Blencowe Henry Head Brewers Labourer M 1855 Solarn 46
6. Blencowe Henry Son M 1896 Burton Upon Trent 5
7. Blencowe Louise Wife F 1865 Dalbury With Lees 36
8. Blencowe Charlotte Dau F 1894 Burton Upon Trent 7

1911 Census 70 Wyggeston Street, Burton Upon Trent

1. Blencowe Frederick Son M 1901 Burton 10
2. Blencowe Hannah Dau F 1899 Burton 12
3. Blencowe Henry Head Brewery Labourer M 1855 Souldern 56
4. Blencowe Henry Son Fitter Labourer Engineers M 1896 Burton 15
5. Blencowe Louisa Wife F 1866 Dalbury With Lees 45

 

WW1

Blencowe Thomas Henry, 1896, Burton, Corporal, S7886, 11^th Bn. (The Prince Consort’s Own) Rifle Brigade.

Synopsis

Henry as he was known endured a long series of battles in France and Flanders during the war. He appears on the first war roll for the battalion suggesting an early 1915 enlistment. 1915 was a quiet time for the battalion, 1916 was not and the battles of the Somme were highlighted by his battalions huge losses at Guillemont in August and captured of Martinpuich in September. It seems Henry was either wounded or got sick in 1916 at one point based on Hospital records. In 1917 he was probably given some home leave after taking part in the chase of the Germans back to the Hindenburg line. Later in 1917 he was wounded somewhere in the Arras Sector and probably missed the Cambrai Operations which were devastating to his battalion. So much so that they were not used in a major offensive again in 1918. In all an astonishing 682 deaths are recorded in the war for the 11^th Rifle Brigade when one considers the wounded would have been a far higher number and this out of a full battalion size of 1007 men.  He appears unlike a lot of his comrades to have had very good health after the war, living until age 83 well above the average for the Blencowe men of this period.

1915

• From the Serial number, we can deduct that Henry enlisted between late 1914 to early 1915.(W. Chatwin 7925 of his battalion enlisted 9th Jan. 1915). The Medal Card tells us that on 21^st Jul. he landed in France with the 11^th Bn. part of the 59^th Brigade of the 20^th (Light) Division. The Army roll of the battalion shows he is with “A” Coy. of the battalion.
• 26^th Jul. The 20^th Division completed a concentration in the Saint-Omer area, all units having crossed to France during the preceding few days. Early trench familiarisation and training took place in the Fleurbaix area.

Note: 11^th (Service) Battalion

Formed at Winchester in September 1914 as part of Kitchener’s second recruitment drive and came under command of 59^th Brigade in 20^th (Light) Division. Moved to Blackdown, going on in February 1915 to Witley and then in April to Hamilton Camp (Stonehenge).

1916

• 2^nd -13^th Jun. The Battle of Mount Sorrel. A local operation in which the Division recaptured the heights with the Canadians.
• 6^th -11^th Jul. Trenches near Wieljte (map). Casualties. A raiding party using gas failed to be successful as the gas didn’t affect the enemy. The result was 12 dead recorded 10/11^th and 34 wounded. On the 11th in a separate incident, a corporal of the battalion shot and killed his sergeant and one other soldier and then committed suicide. What this was about isn’t clear in the diary but the Corporal committing the murder had been demoted and replaced by the Sergeant victim.¹
• 19^th– 23^rd Jul. On the 19^th the Bn. embussed at Wormhoudt and moved to Camp in Plooegsteert Wood via Caestre, Meteren, Bailleul and Romany. Spell in trenches near Dranoutre,3 men killed on patrol on the 22^ndotherwise quiet.¹
• 25^th Jul. The Bn. was relieved and embussed then went by train travelling over 100 km south to Neuvillette east of St. Quentin. Then the Bn. travelled 85 km to the west to Authie on the 26^th.1
• 5^th -15^th Aug. Relieved the 10^th RB in the front line trenches at Serre near Hebtuerne. Mainly trench improvement work.¹
• 18-20^th Aug. Bn. transported to Beuval, on the 19^th to Villers Bocage and then on 20^th entrained at Candas and goes to Mericourt detraining for Meaulte.¹
• 22^nd Aug. Albert. 11^th Bn. RB move into trenches around La Briqueterie. March through Carnoy, Montauban and relieve Royal West Kent Regt [72^nd Bde,24^th Div].¹
• 23^rd – 31^st Aug. Guillemont Trenches. Heavy casualties during the month, 21 men killed.
  • 23/24^th Aug. The 11^th KRRC were attacked on both these days and the 11^th RB were sent to initially to aid and then on the 24^th relieve them in front of Guillemont.¹
  • 25^th Aug. Attacked in front of Guillemont casualties and 5 men killed. The attack was eventually repulsed.¹
• The Somme 1916
• 3^rd Sept. Battle of Guillemont.During the night of the 2^nd/3^rd of Sept. the
  59^th Bde., with the 6^th Oxford and Bucks L.I., returned to its position in the line. The difficult task of storming Guillemont had been entrusted to the Rifle Brigade battalions of the 59^th Brigade upon the right, and to the 47^th Brigade of the 16^th Irish Division. The attack was ordered for noon. Profiting by previous experiences it was planned that the whole village should not be rushed at once, but that the attack should proceed with the method in stages.
  • The first objective was taken by the 2 assaulting Coys. There was considerable opposition, more especially from the trench running parallel to and east of the Sunken Road and many casualties occurred from oblique MG fire coming apparently from the trench which joins the 1^st and 2^nd Sunken Roads cutting the first-named trench at right angles. In addition to the MG, the trench which apparently contained it was full of dead Germans. It was at this first assault that 2 Officers were killed.¹
  • The second objective also caused some trouble. Most of the Germans there were killed, with very few prisoners being taken, either at the first or second objective.¹
  • The third objective was more easily gained through the assaulting Coys. who had now been reinforced by the supports, came under heavy MG fire from the right.¹
  • At the fourth objective, there was not much hand to hand fighting as the enemy had become thoroughly demoralised and surrendered in considerable numbers. However, we incurred some losses both by MG fire and shells.¹
  • Having reached the fourth objective it became apparent that the Bn. was rather too much to the right of the position allotted to it but this was remedied and, on reaching the Ginchy-Wedge Wood Road, the 11^th Bn. RB, though mixed with other troops, was in its right place.¹
  • The Bn., on its way to, and on arrival at the Sunken Road, came under heavy MG fire from both flanks. Many Germans were found in dug-outs and either killed or taken prisoner. It was clear that no further advance on the final objective could be made until the 5^th Division had pushed on and cleared the ridge running SW of Leuze Wood of the many Germans that could be seen upon it. To assist the 5^th Division, Lewis gun and rifle fire was opened on the ridge and many of the enemy were seen to fall.¹ Casualties very high with 56 men killed on this day.³
• 15^th -22^nd Sept. The Battle of Flers-Courcelette. Division of the Fourth Army.XIV Corps. The capture of Martinpuich.
  • 16-17^th Sept. Lesboeufs. On the night of the 16/17^th the 20^th Division,
    less the 61^st Bde relieved the Guards in the left sector of the XIV Corps front. The 11^th Bn. was one of three battalions that had been placed in a position and set an objective in front of Lesboeufs (see map) . The position wasn’t supported adequately and at right angles to the enemy. The result was when they rose up to attack the enemy they were gunned down. Many casualties suffered and 28 men killed this day.¹
• 25^th-28^th Sept. The Battle of Morval. The Bn. in reserve not directly involved in the capture of Crombles, Lesboeufs and  Gueudecourt
• 1-18^th Oct The Battle of Le Transloy. The 59^th Bde in divisional reserve and the 11^th RB only provided a working party of 200 men to finish a communication trench in the 61^st Brigade area, and to act as reinforcements if necessary. Casualties were minimal for the 59^th Bde at 17 for the month and 2 men of the 11^th RB killed in the month. Overall 20th Div. achieved;
  • The capture of Eaucourt l’Abbaye
  • The capture of le Sars
  • Attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt

Note. Medical records show that in 1916 Henry was admitted to the 2nd General Hospital in Le Havre and he was either wounded or sick from combat conditions in the trenches.

1917

• Feb.6-10^th Feb. 11^th R.B. in the front line at the southwest of La Transloy.
  • 11 men were killed on the 6^th and 8^th of the month.
  • 19 men were killed between the 15-17^th of the month
• 1st -4^th Apr.The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line.
  •  By the 1st of April, reconnaissances had found the enemy rearguards holding a line covering Metz-en-Couture and the southwest corner of Havrincourt Wood. The object of the following operations was to
    capture this line.
  • As a preparatory measure, a small party of the 11^th R.B. advancing over ground covered with snow tried to occupy Metz-en-Couture on the night 2^nd/3^rd but found the village strongly held.
  • 4^th At 3.95 P.M. an advance on the left of one battalion
    (the 11^th R.B., with one company of the 10^th R.B.) to capture the second objective, the enemy’s trench from the north-west corner of Metz to the south-west corner of Havrincourt Wood. The 11^th R.B. then advanced on a two-company front, With a company of the 10^th R.B. on their right. The attacking troops immediately came under heavy fire from machine guns in the south-west corner of Havrincourt Wood and suffered many Casualties. 38 men killed on the 4^th Apr.
• 10^th-18^th Aug. The Battle of Langemarck.  The 20^th Division needed to get a footing on the east bank of the Steenbeek leading up to the main Battle.
  • Patrols of the 11^th R.B. tried established posts on east on the 8^th August, one succeeded but had to withdraw on night of 10^th/11^th.⁴
  • Two companies of 10^th K.R.R.C. tried again on the 11^th without success.
  • The 10^th R.B. and two companies of the 11^th R.B. managed to get a footing on the east bank on the 14^th August, and after severe hand to hand fighting advanced as far as Au Bon Gite, taking the mill and several dug-outs nearby but the main structure held out. The R.B. were all round it and even on top of it but the defenders inside held on.⁴
  • On the day of the main attack (16^th Aug) the 11^th R.B. and some men from 83^rd Company R.E. attacked Au Bon Gite, while the first waves of the 6th Ox. & Bucks skirted around it, Au Bon Gite fell about an hour later.⁴ Casualties were heavy with 64 battalion men killed between 10^th-18^th Aug
  • 19-20th Sept. The Bn. on the night of the 19th moved from Norman Junction to Reitres Farm. At zero hour they attacked their target Eagle Trench but on the front of the 11th R.B., the smokescreen was ineffective. The Bn.  Coy’s. having been widely separated to support other battalions in the morning, had to form up in daylight in view of the enemy. This daylight assembly was the signal for a tremendous
    barrage on Langemarck, while machine guns in Eagle Trench simply raked the plain. ⁴ The 11^th R.B. in gaining a footing in Eagle Trench, just north of the cross-roads, had lost 66 per cent. casualties and 11 out of 16 officers. ⁴ There were 33 men killed in the attack. ³

Note: Henry was reported wounded  Tuesday 30 October 1917 in the
Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) . This injury was likely sustained in the Arras sector in October. Medical records at Find My Past exist for Henry’s treatment at No 34 Casualty Clearing Centre which was at Grovetown near Meaulte.

• 20^th-23^rd Nov. The Cambrai Operations.
  • 19^th Nov. The 11^th Bn. moved into reserve at Gouzeaucourt.
  • 20^th Nov. Three Coys of the Bn. occupied trenches astride the Villers Plouich-La Vacquerie Road. One Coy the support line.
    At 0900 Hrs the Bn. moved forward crossing the blue line at 10:00 Hrs and the brown line by 10:30 Hrs following fourteen tanks who were leading the infantry. The Bn. continued to advance to its objective the bridgehead between Masnieres and Marcoing Copse. A garrison of about 150 Germans surrendered and was escorted back behind the lines by the 29^th Div.
    At Les Rues Vertes a certain amount of street fighting was engaged. Some Bn. scouts made it across the bridge over the canal into the village of Masnieres but encountered machine-gun fire suffering three casualties. They returned to the Bn. and then a Tank was mounted by Bn. men to cross the canal again. However, the bridge may have been sabotaged as the tank caused it to collapse and this became a famous blockage in the progress of the Cavalry through Masnieres and up the Cambrai road.

    

  • 21^st Nov. ‘A’ and ‘B’ Coys who was further west of Masnieres made it across the canal and into Grevecoeur. ‘C’ Coy holding some buildings in the south-west of Masnieres and Les Rues Vertes, (see map )
  • 22^nd Nov. The Bn. was relieved by the 6^th OBLI. The Bn. was out of the line in Divisional reserve at Villers Plouich until the 29^th Nov. when it returned to the Hindenburg line.
  • 30^th Nov. On receiving SOS that a German counter-attack had begun the 11^th Bn. took up a line just behind the old Hindenburg Support line in front of La Vacqeurie (see map). The main role was to save the 91^st Bde. Artillery from capture which was done.
  • 3^rd Dec. After holding onto the position until the 2nd the Bn was ordered to take up a defensive line on the Ridge at Welsh and Newport Trenches. This line was held. Casualties for the period from 20^thNov. until 3^rd Dec. were 55 killed and hundreds wounded.

1918

• 20^th Mar-1^st Apr. On the 20^th in billets at Candor between St Quentin and Amiens. Ordered to march to Ognolles to meet German Spring Offensive.

  

  • 21^st Mar. Marched to Villers-St-Christophe through Cressy, Languevoisin Voyennes, Matigny and Toule. Moved at 11:00 Hrs to defend Lanchy and Germaine.¹
  • 22^nd Mar. A line was taken up between Dinggon and Bethencourt. The Germans attacked and the Div. withdrew to south of Nesle. French troops reinforced the Div. and it attempted to retake Nesle.¹

    

  • 25^th Mar. At 23:30 on the 25^th, the Div. retired to Roye.¹
  • 26/27^th Mar. The Battle of Rosieres. The 11^th RB successfully repulsed a German advance in the direction of Bouchoir. As a result of the German advance from the direction of Rosieres and Caix the 11^th Bn. again found itself in immediate support to the front line running from Courcelles to in front of Mezieres.¹
  • 29^th.Mar The Bn ordered to counter-attack on Mezieres which inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy but failed to retake the village. From the evening of 29^th to 31^st the Bn.held the line east of the Moreil-Demuin and south-west of Amiens main road.¹
  • 31^st Mar.The 11^th Bn. retreated and crossed Luce river and took up a line between Domart and Hangard.¹
  • 1^st Apr. the 11^th Bn. devastated by the onslaught was relieved and travelled by lorry and then marched to Selincourt via Quevauvillers. Casualties in this attack were very heavy 28 Officers and 418 OR’s.¹ of which there were 92 recorded deaths for this period.³

The Division was withdrawn after the heavy fighting of the Somme battles, moving on the 20^th  to an area south-west of Amiens. During the summer months, it received many new drafts of men. While the 11^th Bn. continued fighting through to the end of the war there was no significant battles and the CWCG records show only regular but small losses for the battalion. The battles that the battalion was given honours for include;

• The Battle of the Selle^^.Took place as the Allies continued the advance after the Second Battle of Cambrai, recapturing French villages one by one as the German forces retreated to the north-east.
• The Battle of Valenciennes^^. An offensive carried out by
  the British Third Army to advance to the French-Belgian border and the city of
  Valenciennes. The city was re-captured by Canadian troops on 2nd November.
• The Battle of the Sambre^^ and the passage of the Grand Honelle. A continuation of the Allied advance by Haig’s Army Group (the First, Third and Fourth Armies and the French
  First Army) coming from the direction of Valenciennes. The Allied troops were to advance from the Condé Canal on a thirty mile front towards Maubeuge-Mons.

The battles marked ^^ are phases of the Final Advance in Picardy.

The Division was in the area between Bavay and Maubeuge when the Armistice came into effect at 11 am on 11 November. Late in the month, the units moved to the Toutencourt-Marieux area. demobilisation began on 7 January 1919 and the final cadres crossed to England on 28 May.

1919

• 10^th Apr. Discharged to Z reserves.

Note: Promoted to Corporal during the war.

Sources

1. 11^th Bn. Rifle Brigade War diary.
   1. July -Oct 1916 part 1, July -Oct 1916 part 2.
   2. June 1917-Feb 1918 part1, June 1917-Feb 1918 part2.
2. 10^th Bn. Rifle Brigade War diary.
3. Analysis of CWGC death records using Hut-six.co.uk search engine.
4. The History of the Twentieth Division -Inglefield.
5. Battles of the Western Front 1914-1918.

Medals

Awarded 1914-1915 Star, British and Victory medals. Also entitled to but seemingly not awarded the Silver War Badge.

After the War

Marriage 1924

Married 1924 to Ellen ‘Nellie Hackman in Burton upon Trent.

no children found.

1939 Census

24 Wyggeston Street, Horningglow, Burton-upon-Trent.

Thomas H Blencowe 09 Jan 1896 Male Sheet Metal Worker Married
Nellie Blencowe 09 Feb 1897 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married

Death 1978 Age 83

Registration district: East Staffordshire.

Gallery

 

There are 3 records in the National Archives for this man. For copyright reasons, they cannot be re-published.