Blinco Robert W 1884

Robert William Blinco [9110]

1884-1941

Father Nm: Amos Blincoe [1027]^ c 18.5.1851 St Mary Warwick died 1901 nr Coventry.-1901: Oldest known ancestor – James Blinco abt 1795 Warwick?.

Mother Nm: Mary Brooker born 1850 Kent- died 1898.West Bromwich

Marriage Dt:16 May 1908.

K comments: Born into Military family, father Amos was with the 99th Of Foot Regiment and then a Sergeant with ASC pre-war. Uncle James abt 1849 [1026] was in the Royal Marines prior to WW1. Son Dennis Raymond served with the Royal Artillery in WW2.

 

Spouse comments: Elizabeth Lee 1888-1964.

Children: Robert Reginald 1909, Florence Elsie 1912.

Born Ireland 1885

Regiment: Army Service Corps – Commissariat & Transport Corps Place : Curragh Country: Ireland Year: 1884 Volume: 629 Page: 28 Record source: GRO Regimental Birth Indices (1761 to 1924).

Naas, Birth Country: Ireland, Volume: 2 Page: 845 FHL Film Number: 101060

(Research):A.S.C.C. & T. Curragh vol 629 p 28 1884.

1891 Census West Bromwich

1. Amos Blinco 39 Watchman in Foundry
2. May Blinco 43
3. Annie Blinco 16
4. Robert Blinco 6
5. Florence Blinco 3

1901 Census at 24 Croft St West Bromwich

1. Blinco Annie Head F 1874 Aldershot 27
2. Blinco Florence Sister F 1888 Aldershot 13
3. Blinco Robert Brother M 1885 16

1903-1914

• Volunteered to join the Army 27 April 1903.
  • 5^th Jan. 1903 Posted to 2nd Warwickshire Regiment.
• Attestation 27^th Apr. 1903 in the Royal Warwicks age 18 yrs and 4 months for a term of 12 years. Occupation Machinist.
• Private 9400 2^nd and 1^st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
• November 1903. Diarrhoea eating raw fruit, Tregantle Fort Hospital, Cornwall. Most likely based at Tregantle Fort at this time.
• Served from 15 Nov 1904-30 Mar 1906 East Indies, Belgaum.

  

  • 15th Nov 1904. Posted to 1st Warwick’s Regiment
  • 10^th Dec 04. Posted to India. Belgaum cantonment. “Belgaum, a town and district of British India, in the southern division of Bombay. The town is situated nearly 2500 ft. above sea-level; it has a station on the Southern Mahratta railway, 245 m. S. of Poona”
  • March 1905 Hospital Belgaum India, suffering with pneumonia
• 1906-1914 Served likely as Territorial attending camps etc.

1911 Census Spon End Coventry Coventry Warwickshire

1. Blinco Eliziabeth Wife M 1889 Coventry 22
2. Blinco Robert Head Cycle Chair Finisher M 1885 Kildare Ireland 26
3. Blinco Robert Son F 1909 St Johns Coventry 2 6 H

Prior to war working as an assembler in the Coventry Chain Co Ltd works

Royal Warwickshire Regiment

WW1

Blinco Robert William, 1884, Ireland, Private, 9400, 1st Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

1903-1914

• 27^th Apr. Volunteered for a 12-year term.

1914

• 5^th Aug. Mobilised territorial soldier, age 29 occupation an assembler in the Coventry Chain works.
• 20^th Aug. Posted.

Note: 1^st Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment was based in Shorncliffe with 10^th Brigade, 4^th Division when war broke out in August 1914. 4^th Division was held back from the original British Expeditionary Force by a last-minute decision to defend England against a possible German landing. The fate of the BEF in France and the lack of any move by the enemy to cross the channel, reversed this decision and the 1^st Warwick’s proceeded to France on the 22^nd of August 1914, arriving in time to provide infantry reinforcements at the Battle of Le Cateau, the Artillery, Engineers, Field Ambulances and mounted troops being still en-route at this time. They were in action at The Battle of the Marne, The Battle of the Aisne and at The Battle of Messines in 1914. In 1915 they fought in The Second Battle of Ypres.

• 22^nd Aug. The 1^st Bn. arrived at Southampton and boarded the Caledonia and sailed at 10:30 am and arrived off Boulogne at 8 pm but remained on board until 04:30 am when they were landed. They left Boulogne on one train at 11:30 pm that night. Arrived at Le Cateau at 10:30 am on the 24th Aug.
• 24^rd Aug. Marched at once to Beaumont and went into bivouac with the brigade. Fine and hot. Outposts out to NE of Beaumont.
• 25-26^th Aug. Battle of Le Cateau.

  

  • 25^th Aug. Left on orders of the brigade for St Python early morning arrived and had breakfast. Firing to N and NE at about 7 am we moved back and took up a fire position at Farm at Point 118. English force retiring south, 18th brigade and cavalry, we covered their retirement and came under horse artillery fire at 6 pm, no casualties. Received orders to retire as soon as possible.
  • 26^th Aug. Arrived after a long march about 12 miles & bivouac in a cornfield near Aucourt. 05:15 am Heavy maxim fire opened on the King’s Own and Lancs. Fus. on ridge 800 yds to our front and N of us. Regiment rapidly got extended and took up a fire position, enemy-occupied ridge and opened Maxim gun fire.
  • 26^th Aug. At 07:00 am the forward line in road attacked the ridge and reached the top, but were, owing to a heavy gun and Maxim fire, were unable to hold the position & and withdrew in good order with a company of Kings Own to the road, with a loss of 7 officers wounded and 40 men killed, wounded and missing. We held our position under heavy gun fire for the remainder of day with further casualties of 1 officer and 14 men wounded. Towards evening the 12th Brigade on our right fell back on Ligny.
• 1^st Sept. The Affair of Nery. Marched at dawn to relieve attack on guns and cavalry at Nery – arrived too late to be of any assistance. Went on with Division to Baron.
• 7-10^th Sept. Battle of the Marne . Including the passage of the Petit Morin and the passage of the Marne.

  

  • • 7^th Sept. Serres. At 6 am regiment with Royal Irish Fus. moved across the river and took up a position on high ground N of Crecy to cover the crossing of 4^th Division-enemy had retired during the night -4^th Div. crossed at 1 pm and we resumed our position in rear of AG at Le Croiselle and marched to Girimoutiers, a few stray shots at Lt Epinure?-rather a long tiring day and very hot. 8 miles.
    • 8^th Sept. Girimoutiers. Brigade in reserve left at 3.45 am for Les Fermieres got in touch with Germans at Petit Courron about 12 o’clock. Jouarres reported held by enemy Brigade was deployed for the attack but Germans were driven out of Jouarres by 5th Div. We went to bivouac at Hotel De Bois. Heavy rain during the afternoon. Two coys on outposts. 8 miles.
    • 9^th Sept. Hotel De Bois Germans blew up the bridge over river Marne. The regiment remained in bivouac. Brigade advanced via Jouarres & Tarterre to Les Poupeuans & bivouac for the night. 4 miles
    • 10^th Sept. Les Poupeuans .Left and marched via Laferte and railway bridges over the Marne via Les Davids to Hervilliers, Germans had retreated in the same direction – 14 miles.
• 12-15^th Sept. Battle of the Aisne. Including the capture of the Aisne Heights including the Chemin des Dames.
  • 12^th Sept. Villers-le-Petit . Left forming part of AG via La Loge Fm, Tigny, Buzancy. French corp came in touch at Vierzy, we advanced to Ecury where our guns shelled enemy near Villenueve. We were relieved at dusk by 12th Brigade and went into billets at Septmonts. Poured with rain everyone wet through.
  • 13^th Sept. Septmonts. Left for Venizel, halted on top of hill till 2 pm the regiment took up a position on south side river Aisne to cover advanced troops. Advanced via Venizel and crossed river Aisne at 10 pm and moved up the road to Bucy le Long.
  • 14^th Sept. Bucy-le-Long. Moved up under cover of the village, heavily shelled by enemy’s artillery without damage to us. C & D reinforced the Rifle Brigade at the
  • 15^th Sept. Bucy-le-Long. Heavily shelled all day, got well under cover. C & D again reinforced, 2 men, wounded on the way up, rain and getting cold.
• 12^th Oct-2^nd Nov. Battle of Messines.
  • 12^th Oct. Route Cruil-Etaples-Boulogne-Calais-St Omar. Arrive St. Omar and march to French barracks, Move up into square near Hotel-de-Ville with the remainder of the brigade. German aeroplane dropped 2 bombs on the town. Left by motor buses for Castre making a detour of 40 miles.
  • 13^th Oct. Arrived Castre and went into billets. Orders to move to Meteren, A & C Coys formed advance guard. On reaching Fletre enemy was reported to be holding high ground along the ridge in front of Meteren, A & B coys were deployed A on left B on right north of the road to advance and if possible to cross-road. D Coy was sent up behind C coy in support. The enemy retired into and just outside Meteren occupying trenches and houses. 11 Am Regiment ordered to push on and endeavour to push them out. Gained outskirts of village but were held up and great need of supports. C & D Coys again advanced and took several trenches but suffered severely. C & D coy joined the battalion at Planeboon, the regiment becoming reserve to the brigade. Meteren was taken during the night. Our casualties 42 killed 85 wounded. A perfect advance by companies concerned. The very good spirit shown by all concerned. The battalion remained in reserve.
  • 14^th Oct. Went into billets in Meteren, the enemy having retired a good few positions were taken.
• 13^th Oct-2^nd Nov. Battle of Armentieres. Including the capture of Meteren.
  • 15^th Oct. Meteren . The battalion remained in billet. moved to Bailleul….marched to Le Leuthe…onto Armentieres and onwards to Houplines.
  • 21^st Oct. Houplines .Battles raging all round. Heavy shelling. 11^th & 12^th brigades got forward NW of river LYS. 17^th brigade retired a little during the night to improve their line which left our right flank very much in the air.
  • 22^nd-31^st Oct. Spells in Trenches, heavy shelling by enemy throughout the period.
  • 1-2^nd Nov. shelled all day and incessant sniping.

1915

• Jan.-15^th Mar. Spells in Trenches at St Yves and billeted at Creche north of Steenwerk. Casualties in this time due to Shelling and occasional sniper.
• 15^th Mar. Battalion moved to Armentieres but on the 18^th Mar. orders changed and they return to Creche area.
• 21^st Mar. Battalion relieved DCLI in the trenches at Wulverghem, billeting again at Creche at the end of a spell.
• 1st-10^th Apr. In trenches at Steenbeque
• 13^th Apr. Bailleul
• 15^th-23^rd Apr. In training Oultersteene.
• 24^th Apr. “Left Lochre at 7 am and marched to Ouderdon and went into billets in huts at 12 noon. Order received to advance at 4 pm via Vlamertinghe and halted outside Ypres from 8 pm till midnight Ypres was heavily shelled and on fire.”
• 25^th Apr. Second Battle of Ypres at St Julien.

  

  This was the battle that the Germans first used Chlorine Gas in the Northern sector of the Front Line. It had devastating effects first on two French Divisions and then on the 1^st Canadian Division and also the British Divisions in the vicinity. Released on the 21^st Apr. it bewildered the allied forces who hadn’t seen anything like it and were also totally ill-equipped to deal with it. It took a while to learn just the basics that it was worst at the bottom of trenches and that it was water-soluble and so wet handkerchief’s over the nose and mouth could help a little. the casualties form its use were very high creating a huge gap in the front line but the Germans cautious to advance in its wake could not capitalise on its effect and the line was closed over the next few days aided by some brilliant defending most notably by the Canadians. Robert and the 4^th Div. were lucky to have been south of the gas main attack and has Robert’s battalion only joined the fight on the 25^th Apr. on the  Wieltje-St julien line they avoided the worst of it. Note Harry Blinko of the 9^th QVR regiment was also at Wieltje fighting on this day.

• Robert sustains a shoulder wound in this battle. Note; there were 216 men of Robert’s battalion killed on the 25^th April.
• War Diary “25^th Left Ypres at midnight for Wieltje where orders were received for the attack. The Brigade attacked at 4:30am. We attacked wood on the left of the with the 7^th Argyle and Sutherlanders in support. The Seaforth Highlanders, R. Irish Fus., R. Dublin Fus attacked on right on St Julien. Owing to the German trenches being shelled insufficiently and supports being unable to come up the Bn. retired at about 7am to trenches near the Farm. Our casualties very heavy 17 Officers 500 OR’s killed, wounded or missing.”
• 26^th Apr. Wounded and classified (Entry filled out with the Army Wound Classification System of Roman Numerals) – VIII1 – Gunshot wound of the upper extremities. Simple flesh contusion or wound. left shoulder, slight.  A medical record exists that shows Robert was first sent to 18th General Hospital at Camiers in the Pais du Calais. However on the 27^th he was sent on to Hospital at Rouen for treatment.³ 
• 27^th Apr,

  

  Apr. Robert transferred to No.8 General Hospital at Rouen  (No.8 General Hospital was a British military hospital in the north of the town, consisting of tents and huts .)

• 4^th May Transferred to London camp.
• 27^th May Rejoined battalion at Vlamertinghe. War Diary “In bivouac re-organising Coys and NCO’s Draft of 159 joined from base.”
• Jul-Dec. For the balance of the year the battalion was in and around trenches at Sucrerie near Mailly–Maillet, with considerable amount of time in the trenches casualties were moderate but overall a quiet time for the battalion.
• 15^th Oct. After home leave a letter written by Robert gets published in the Coventry Evening Telegraph. Here is what it says. “Private R Blinco of the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment a Coventry man hailing from Black Horse Yard, Spon End in the course of a letter home describes the joy which has been given to the troops by the Allies great offensive movement. He says ” We have just been given some good news and all the boys are whistling and singing that anyone would think they have just had a fiver given to them. I have seen many faces in my regiment since the war started and I can honestly say that everyone is cheerful and the spirit of the regiment is as good as ever it was, and they know the day will come home sooner or later when we shall be victorious.” Private Blinco who recently paid a visit home says” One thing I noticed after spending over a year in the firing line among ruined buildings etc., was how beautiful our homes in England are. For the first few days, it was all like a beautiful dream, to be able to have what you like to eat and drink and a bed to sleep in and to be able to walk around without restriction. It was grand to be home again if only for a few days and it bucks a man up to see what we are fighting for and to keep the Germans out of England.”

1916

• 19^th Apr. Robert shipped back to England as end of 12-year term of service.
• 26^th Apr. Discharged.

Sources

1. War Diary of the 1^st Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
2. France And Belgium 1914 by Brigadier-General Sir James E. Edmonds.
3. First World War Representative Medical Records of Servicemen NA MH106/1077.
4. Army Service records.

Medals

The 1914 Mons Star, British and Victory medals and possibly a Silver war badge though no record found he was discharged in 1916.

After the War

1921 Census

7, Spon End, Coventry

Robert Blinco Head Male 1884 37 – Chain Assembler For Motor Class Coventry Chair Co, Manufacture Of Chains
Elizabeth Blinco Wife Female 1889 32 Coventry, Warwickshire, England Home Duties –
Robert Blinco Son Male 1909 12 Coventry, Warwickshire, England – –
Elise Blinco Daughter Female 1912 9 Coventry, Warwickshire, England – –
Alfred Blinco Son Male 1918 3 Coventry, Warwickshire, England

1939 Census

81 Eagle Street, Coventry
Robert W Blinco 19 Dec 1883 Male Metal Roller Married 56 1
Elizabeth Blinco 05 Aug 1888 Female Unpaid Domestic Duties Married 56 2
Denis Blinco 26 Aug 1924 Male Shop Assistance Single 56 3

Death 1941 age 57 years

Coventry, Warwickshire, Volume: 6d Page: 1349.

Gallery

 

There are 13 Pre War records and 3 WW1 records in the National Archives for this man. For copyright reasons, they cannot be re-published.

Volunteered for the Warwickshire Regiment
Attestation 27 Apr 1903 in the Royal Warwicks age 18 yrs and 4 months for a term of 12 years

A foot inspection for the 1st Warwicks maybe in France