William James Blinko [4254]
1887-1961
Father Nm: John Blinko [3582] born 1846 Christ Church Southwark (St. Georges Hanover D.Q.) died Mar Q 1901 Lambeth: Oldest known ancestor – Huett Blencowe, C1720, Wolverton.
Mother Nm: Rebecca Carroll 1852 baptised 8 Apr 1860 Lambeth d. Sep 1920, Lambeth, Surrey
Marriage Dt:
K comments: Brother Edwin served with the Royal Field Artillery. Brother Henry served with the London Regiment and 10th Bn. Kings Royal Rifle Corps and was taken POW Nov. 1917.
Spouse comments:
Children:
(Research): GR[B] Lambeth Dec 1887 GR[D] Lambeth March 1961
Baptised 30 Nov 1887
St Mary the Less, Princes Rd Lambeth. Father’s occupation Potter.
1901 Census Lambeth
- Rebecca Blinko 44
- Henry Blinko 19
- Edwin Blinko 19
- Clara Blinko 15
- William J Blinko 13
- Emma Blinko 10
1911 Census 136 Walnut Tree Close Guildford
- Blinko William Visitor Not Specified M 1888 Lambeth 23
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| Royal Garrison Artillery | RAF |
WW1
Blinko William James, 1888, Lambeth, Gunner, 177526, Royal Garrison Artillery, 272571
Synopsis
I originally thought that two war records were for the same man and this web originally showed that William James Blinko had joined the RAF in June 1918 and subsequently been given an honorary Officer Cadet rank with the Canadian Air Force in 1920. But I now think this is an incorrect assumption. My reason is based on his occupation ie in 1939 which is given as a builders labourer, this seems inconsistent with being selected for training as a pilot Officer Cadet in the RAF or the Canadian RAF in 1918.
I suspect the RAF record for WJ Blinko is another man entirely. To record this situation, I show the records for a WJ Blinko RAF in the addendum
1915
- 11th Dec. William likely enlisted on 11th Dec 1915 as the preceding RGA serial number 177525 did on that day. William may well have been sent to the Reserves at this time and recalled in Oct. 1917. (this is what happened to Gunner in 177525)
William’s Medal Index Card (BWM/VM pair) does not mention his RGA unit but the Medal Roll RGA/206B page 10632 does:
177526 Gnr BLINKO William James, “Y” A.A. Battery RGA 177526 Gnr
So William was an Anti-Aircraft gunner and probably with Y AA Battery for the duration which was a group of six two-gun AA sections and served under First Army, whose sector was, roughly, from north of Vimy Ridge up to the Belgian frontier.
Note: The History of the Royal Artillery Western Front lists the Y Battery operating on 11th Nov. 1918 with the First Army which had C, K, Y, and E (Canadian) Batteries.
1918
Sources
- War Forum – Mark Wood
- Air Ministry Dept. of the Master-General of personnel: Officer’s Service Records
Medals
Awarded the British and Victory medals
Death 1961
Lambeth London, Volume 5C, Page 1546
There are 3 records in the National Archives for this man. For copyright reasons they cannot be re-published.
ADDENDUM
The records of a W J Blinko not yet identified in the Blencowe Database.
- 6th Jun. William joins up with the RAF then mysteriously on 1st Nov. 1918 transferred to the Canadian RAF Officer Cadets (perhaps at this stage he is thinking of emigrating there after the war.
W. J Blinco Cdn RAF No 272571 joins on 6th Jun. the RAF and then transfers 1st Nov. 1918 to Canadian Officer Cadets but is discharged 22 Dec. 1918 Given an Honorary Officer commission in 1920. 
RAF Officer Cadets 1918. The white hatband denotes cadet status.
- 31st Dec. William is discharged and demobilised. In 1920 given an Honorary Commission of 2nd Lieutenant with the Canadian RAF. This is indeed a strange recognition for a Cadet in 1918 who would undergo 11 months of training before getting his Pilots Brevet. So this looks like a token gesture for voluntary his effort to join the Canadian Forces.