Blinco Charles W 1888 DCM

Charles William Blinco DCM  [4264]

Died of Wounds 19 Apr 1918

1888-1918

Father Nm: Dennis Charles Blencowe [3052] c 8.9.1850 St. Mary Swaffham Bullbeck buried 17.1.1912 Swaffham Bulbeck: Oldest known Ancestor – Thomas Blinko M 1767

Mother Nm: Caroline Aves [5917] 1850 Bottisham -1901

Marriage Dt:1911 to Clara M Long, Cambridge,  Volume 3b Page 1177

K comments:

Brothers Arthur killed Apr 1917 serving with Royal Fusiliers at Passchendaele Brother Frederick served with East Kents was honourably discharged.

Nephews Victor George served with the Suffolks from 1912-1922 and Brother Tom (Thomas W.E.) served with the KRRC and was wounded in 1918. Note: there is a suspicion that Charles father Dennis Charles Blincoe 1850 served in 1878-1882 Afghan war

Spouse Comments: Clara M Long

Children:

(Research): GR[B] Newmarket June 1888, Transcr. Swaffham Bulbeck Parish Register [Walton]

1891 CENSUS

1. Dennis Blincoe 40
2. Caroline Blincoe 41
3. Thomas Blincoe 21
4. Laurice Blincoe 18
5. Arthur Blincoe 10
6. Frederic Blincoe 7
7. Charles Blincoe 3

1901 CENSUS SWAFFHAM BULBECK CAMBS

1. Blencoe Arthur Son Ag Labourer 1875 Swaffam Bulbeck 26
2. Blencoe Fred Son Ag Labourer 1883 Swaffam Bulbeck 18
3. Blencoe Charles Son 1888 Swaffam Bulbeck 13
4. Blencoe Denis Head Ag Labourer 1851 Swaffam Bulbeck 50

1911 Census Barrosa Barracks, Stanhope Lines, Aldershot

1. Blinco Charles Army Private 2^nd Bn. Suffolk Regiment  22

Suffolk Regiment

WW1

Blinco Charles William, 1888, Swaffham Bulbeck, Sergeant, 8131, 2^nd 9^th and 12^th Suffolk Regiment, 121^st Bde, 40^th Division.

Synopsis

Charles was a veteran soldier who enlisted in late 1910 in the 2^nd Suffolk Regiment. Charles was joined by his nephew Victor George in the 2^nd Battalion in 1912 and when war came in 1914 Victor George went off to fight immediately in action in 1914 (Battle of Le Cateau) however Charles did not join him in France until Feb. 1915. Charles was transferred during the war twice, first to the 9^th.Bn. and then the 12^th. Bn. Suffolk Regt. We do not know exactly when these transfers take place, what we do know is that as of 19^th. Nov 1917 he was with the 12^th Suffolk’s. We also know that Charles was a small man (the 12^thwas a Bantam battalion ie men below 5ft 3in taller than 5ft.)

The landing dates in France of the three battalions Charles served with are;

1. 2^nd Bn. Suffolks. 17 August 1914.
2. 9^th Bn.Suffolks. 30 August 1915, battalion disbanded Feb. 1918.
3. 12^th Bn. Suffolks.  6 June 1916.

From this, we can say that Charles was probably with the 2^nd Bn. from Feb.1915 until at least Sept 1915. In his time in the war, Charles achieved recognition for his brave deeds (DCM). Initially, in Ypres salient he stayed there until July 1916 when the battalion moved to the Somme, in late August a move to the Bethune sector was made. In October (if still with the 2^nd Bn.)  the battalion moved this time to the Serre sector for the battle of the Ancre. no matter what time Charles transferred to the 9^th Bn. in 1916 he was in similar areas of the western front. It was sometime in 1917 he transferred to the 12^th Bn. and Charles was in a new area (just south-west of Cambrai ), it’s here that he fought his last battle at Gonnelieu.

1915

• 17^th Feb. Landed in France with the 2^nd Suffolk Regiment, 76^th Bde, 3^rd Div. Charles joins the battalion in the Ypres salient as a replacement. The battalion had lost 139 men killed (plus other casualties) since first arriving in 1914.
• 19^th Mar. Hooge. 2^nd Bn. operations to blow up enemy mines and move into trenches made from the holes.⁶
• 25^th-13^th Oct. The Battle for Loos.The largest battle of WW1 and ultimately a very heavy defeat. General Haig mistakenly thought this would be a great victory (even one to end the war) but without the planning, Artillery fire and target red, blue etc lines the attack was a specific direction. Haig thought the first use of the gas by the British would devastate the Germans but it did not. The BEF commander Gen. Sir John French lost his command as a result of the failure of the battle and Haig inherited the role from then on.³
• The 9^th Suffolks take part in this battle but Charles possibly did not as he may have been still with the 2^nd at this time.

  

Note: In November 1915 the 12^th Bn. Suffolks attached to 121st Brigade in 40th Division.

1916

Movements of 2nd Bn. Suffolks in 1916

• 1^st-2^nd Mar. The Actions of the Bluff. “The bombardment eventually opened on 1 March, …..At 2.15 am on 2 March, Brigadier-General Ernest Pratt, officer commanding 76^th Brigade, advised Divisional HQ that he would not require a planned extra 20-minute intensive bombardment. The leading infantry (right to left, the 2/Suffolk, 8/King’s Own and 1/Gordon Highlanders) began to move at 4.15 am and the assault was launched fifteen minutes later. British barrage fire began two minutes after that. The attack achieved complete surprise, ………. By 5.10 am, the infantry had captured all objectives.”⁴
• 2^nd – 18^th Jul. Arrived Doullens from St Omer (2^nd) and from there marched to Longuevillette. To Naours (3rd), Coisy (4^th), Franvillers (5^th), Celestines Wood (6^th), Carnoy (8^th). Began tours of trenches around Bernafay Woods.

  

  Two companies to mine support and Breslau trench (12^th). Worked on filling in Mine Alley – improving Montauban-Carnoy Rd-dug new communications trench to Caterpillar Valley (14^th). Trenches SW of Trones Wood and near Maltz Horn Farm (15^th).Two companies in support of Gordon Highlanders during attack at Longueval (18^th).⁷

At this point War Diary records “recruitment of Bantams (160 men received 28^th Jul) a hindrance to the other ranks”

• 20^th Jul. The Battle of Bazentin. In which the Division helped capture Longueval. Attack on Longueval advanced from Pont Street 3.35 am “with their right flank exposed pressed on with great resolution and were entirely lost” heavy mist caused 2nd line to lose direction.. Machine Gun fire from the junction of Duke St and Piccadilly made movement across impossible. dug in along Duke St. Relieved and to Breslau trench (21^st). ⁵
• 16^th Aug. Succesful attack on Cochrane Alley. Part of enemies line taken Cochrane Alley to Hardecourt-Guillemont Road. casualties 281
• 11^th Aug. To Sandpit Camp.
• 21st Aug. To Morlancourt, Entrained at Mericourt for Candas (23 Aug) and from there marched to Le Meillard. Began to move to Bethune Sector (25 Aug.)
• 8^th Oct. Entrained at St Pol and via Arqueves took over billets at Bertrancourt.
• 17^th Oct, To Louvencourt, Courcelles (19 Oct), two coys to Colincamps .
• 23^rd Oct. Began tours in line Serre Sector.
• 29^th Oct. To Bus-les-Artois.
• 13^th– 19^th Nov. The Battle of the Ancre.
  • 12^th Nov. Front line
  • 13^th Nov. Attacked Serre but failed, high casualties amongst officers (11) All ranks 272.
  • 14^th Nov. Relieved and to Courcelles
  • 15^th Nov. Front line.

Movements of 9th (Service) Battalion. 71st Brigade, 6th Division

• 2^nd-28^th Aug. Entrained at Prouven for Candas and from there marched via Beauval and Lealvillers to Mailly-Maillet Wood. These positions, with the exception of a week spent at Louvencourt, held until (28 Aug). Duties in the area included clearing 36^th (Ulster) Division’s 1^st July dead from the battlefield.
• 29^th Aug. Via Beauval to Montonvillers. Later to Cardonnette, Mericourt-l’Abbe and Sandpit Camp.
• 11- 18^th Sept. Attack on the Quadrilateral.
  • 11^th Sept. Took over trenches from 4^th Grenadier Guards south-east of Ginchy.
  • 13^th Sept. With 2nd Notts and Derby attacked The Quadrilateral -assault soon checked by machine gunfire. Further attempts made throughout the day, but no gains made. Dug in about half a mile in front of the start point. Casualties (both battalions) – 21 officers and some 500 other ranks. CWGC records show 46 killed this day.
  • 15/16^th Sept. In support of 9^th Norfolk during its attempt at the Quadrilateral. Regimental historian Lieutenant-Colonel C.C.R. Murphy notes ‘the trying experiences of the 13^th were repeated.’ Heavy fire indicating high losses and withdrawal ordered. CWGC records 109 men killed on the 15/16^th  as a result of the activities described here.
  • 17-18^th Sept. In support during 6^th Division’s capture of The Quadrilateral.

Note: The huge losses of the 9^th Bn. in September may be the logical time that Charles is transferred to the battalion to bolster its numbers.

• 19^th Sept. Relieved and moved to Ville-sur-Ancre.
• 25^th Sept. To reserve at Bernafay Woods
• 26^th Sept. Front line north-east of Ginchy.
• 12^th Oct. In support during 6^th Division’s operations at Le Transloy – holding positions at Misty and Cloudy Trenches were not required to move forward.
• 21^st Oct. Relieved and to Corbie.
• 28^th Oct. Transferred Bethune area.

1917

MOVEMENTS OF 12TH (SERVICE) BATTALION. 121st Brigade in 40th Division.

Timing is unknown for the transfer from 9^th to 12^th battalions but we do know that Charles was by 25^th Sept. with the 12^th Bn. at Gonnelieu.

• • Mar. The German retreat to the Hindenburg Line
  • The capture of Fifteen Ravine, Villers Plouich, Beaucamp and La Vacquerie (April and early May)
  • Sept. The Battle of Epehy.
  • 25/26^th Sept. Raid at Gonnelieu. Fatal Wounding.

    

    Charles was involved in one last act of courage and bravery that caused him to be recognised with the DCM which was Gazetted 19 Nov 1917 (citation below). This raid was very costly with over 100 soldiers lost out of approx 208 involved. Charles sustained wounds of a critical nature in this engagement and was hospitalised for some time. He was possibly at a hospital in the Wimereux – Boulogne area when on 19^th Apr 1918 he died of his wounds.

    

    

    He is buried at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France Plot: XI. C. 5.

Sources

• • 1. Wikipedia –
    2. The Great War Forum 
    3. WFA Suffolk Branch Branch Briefing, May 2012
    4. The Long, Long Trail The British Army in the Great War, 1914-1918. -The actions of Spring 1916
    5. British Battalions on the Somme: Battles & Engagements…. by Ray Westlake
    6. The Friends of the Suffolk Regiment 
    7. British Battalions on the Somme: Battles & Engagements…. by Ray Westlake

Medals

Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory Medals

Transcript of Citation

8131 Sjt C Blinco

“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in a raid on the enemy’s trenches. When all his officers were wounded and the company disorganised by hostile barrage he took command, reorganised his men, and led them successfully to the objective. Later he made several journeys, bringing back the wounded under heavy fire. He showed the greatest initiative and courage throughout. (6 Feb 1918)”

Detail of the Raid at Gonnelieu in which Charles was awarded DCM. Page from the regimental history of the Suffolk Regiment for a brief account of the raid. From Colin Taylor.

In his will, Charles left his monies to his widow Clara. see Soldiers Effects record.

Clara would have also received an ongoing widows pension as long as she didn’t re-marry. Also, a Scroll signed by the King and a Plaque commemorating Charles would have been sent to Clara.

GALLERY

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