Blincow William F 1891

William Frank Blincow  [4371]

1891-1955

Father Nm:

Henry (Harry) Blincow 1856 [173] died 1937 prob. Northwood : Oldest known ancestor – John Blinco 1660 Whilton.

Mother Nm: Mary Raymont [32] 1861 Purlight Essex died 1942 Willesden

Marriage Dt:1917 to Mary A Mitchell, Willesden Volume 3a Page 590.

K comments:

Brother Stanley James served in the same RFA Brigade. In WW2 Nephew Ronald James and Niece Margaret served with the RAF.

Spouse Comments: Mary A Mitchell.

Children: Lilian M 23 Dec 1921, Dorothy Jane 1924, Frank 1927, Irene E 1930.

(Research): GR[B] Hendon Sept 1891 Volume 3a Page 190.

1901 CENSUS 80 RAILWAY COTTAGES, ACTON

1. Henry Blincow 43 Railway Engine driver
2. Mary A Blincow 40
3. Harry Blincow 13
4. Lilian M Blincow 11
5. William F Blincow 9
6. Stanley J Blincow 6

1911 Census 50 Charlton Road, Harlesden N W Willesden Middlesex

1. Blincow Frank William Boarder Lithographic Printer M 1892 Harlesden, Middlesex 19

 

WW1

Blincow William Frank, 1891, Hendon, Sergeant, 162, 960262, 7^th Brigade Royal Field Artillery.

1914

• 15^th Sept. Joined the Territorials.

1915

• 18^th Mar. Entered France on the same date as brother Stanley James. Given this date for entry to France and the location of Stanley (London), it is highly likely that he was part of the 1/7^th RFA, 47^th Division.
• The 1/7^th landed in France on 18 Mar 1915 with 4^th London Brigade, 2^nd London Division (in May these became 140^th Brigade, 47^th Division) and remained with it until January 1918. The division was sent to France in March 1915, one of the first Territorial divisions to enter the fighting, and served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War.
• 25^th -26^th May. The Battle of Festubert. The first time the 47^th Div fought with the use of its own Artillery. “47th Division’s attack, using 142^nd Brigade, achieves success in advancing 400 yards towards Chapelle St Roch, on a thousand-yard front. However, the advance takes them into an area that can be covered by heavy German artillery south of the canal near Auchy-les-la-Bassée. This enemy artillery is beyond the range of British guns, and it does great damage to the troops who have advanced. The Brigade lost some 980 casualties in this shelling, but held on to its position.” ¹
• 25^th Sept. – 18^th Oct. The Battle of Loos.The largest battle of WW1 in 1915 and ultimately a very heavy defeat for the British. Featuring twenty-one Blencowe men that we can identify. General Haig mistakenly thought this would be a great victory (even one to end the war) but without the planning, adequate Artillery fire, and specific target maps of advancement. Haig thought the first use of the gas by the British would devastate the Germans but it did not. The British had 60,000 casualties compared to the Germans 26,000 which in itself tells of the outcome. 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. Leading up to the 25^{th Sept.} the divisional RFA brigades all took part in four days of bombardment of the German positions. The Division used gas canisters in the attack on the 25^th fired by artillery so that the gas cloud drifted towards enemy lines.

1916

• 3rd Feb. Court Martial details are at National Archives but a prison sentence seems likely. This reference
  

  Name:	Frank Blincow
  Court or Trial Date:	3 Feb 1916
  Court or Trial Place:	In field
  Regiment:	7 London Bde., R. F. A. (T.F.)
  Reference Number:	WO 213/7

• 15^th – 22^nd Sept. Battle of Flers-Courcelette-High Wood.
• 1^st Oct – 5^th Nov. Battle of Le Transloy Including the capture of Eaucourt l’Abbaye and attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt²

1917

• 7^th – 14^th Jun. Battle of Messines. “1st Jun. our bombardment of the enemy’s trenches and the cutting of the wire so that by 4th Jun. our attacking troops got into their allotted positions.”²
• 18^th Aug. William was married while on home leave in August 1917 Wedding licence record 14^th Aug. at St Mary, Willesden

Records show in the army at the time of the wedding, Blincow William Frank 1891 Hendon Sergeant Royal Field Artillery

It would seem as speculated both brothers served in the same RFA Brigade given their regimental numbers, landing in France date, and Territorial status.

Williams son William Frank in a letter to the Blencowe Family Association confirms the service of both brothers and for the first time indicates that his father was wounded in 1917. Then recently a medical record became available confirming this and that in 1917 William was admitted to County Of Middlesex War Hospital At Napsbury.

Sons Letter begins:

“…….My Uncle Stanley returned from service in WWI and opened a grocer’s shop in NW London that eventually expanded to a chain of six stores. My father William Frank served in the Royal Field Artillery in WWI, was wounded, and shipped home in 1917. He became a lithographic printer for Phillips, the well-known map publishers.”

Army records also show that (after the marriage?) William was reduced by Field General Court Martial to a Gunner.

Medals

Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British and Victory medals.

After the War

1921 Census

25, Meyrick Road, Willesden, Middlesex

William Frank Blincow Head Male 1891 29 Harlesden, Middlesex, England Lithographic Painter Geo Philip & Son Ltd Geographical & Painter Publishers
Mary Ann Blincow Wife Female 1892 29 Harlesden, Middlesex, England Housewife

Year: 1935, County or Borough: Willesden, Ward or Division/Constituency: Willesden West.

Street Address: 25 Meyrick Road.

Frank became a lithographic printer for Phillips, the well-known map publisher.

1939 Register

25 Meyrick Road, Willesden, Willesden M.B., Middlesex

William F Blincow 07 Jul 1891 Male – Married 150 1
Mary A Blincow 07 Jun 1892 Female – Married 150 2
Lilian M Keene (Blincour) 23 Dec 1921 Female – Single 150 3

Death 1955 age 64 years

Willesden vol 5f p 222 Dec 1955.

Gallery

 

There are 2 records in the National Archives for this man. For copyright reasons, they cannot be re-published.