Buzzard Edith 1891

Edith Buzzard

1891-1964

Fathers Name: Frank Buzzard born 1863 Banbury died 1926 Banbury

Mothers Name: Sarah Turner born ABT 1867 Neithrop, Oxfordshire died 1934 at Banbury,

Marriage Dt:1917 to Thomas Blencowe

Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1917, Registration district: Banbury, Inferred County: Oxfordshire

Volume Number: 3a, Page Number: 2018

Spouse Comments: Thomas Blencowe [4266] born 15 June 1888 died Apr 1964 Norwich Thomas served in Royal Navy Air Service.

Kin Comments.

WW1: Brothers Henry Ashby was wounded while with Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry and discharged with honours, Frank Private, 122197, Machine Gun Corps and later RAOC.

WW2: Daughter Edith Joan followed her mother and served with the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force in WW2.

Children: Thomas B 1920, Edith J 1922, Derrick R 1928, Evan R 1930 and David c 1935

Birth 24 October 1890

Neithrop, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England. Source for day month 1939 Census however the year 1891 must be wrong as Edith appears in 5th April 1891 Census.

1891 Census

Residence 2 Goulds Square, Neithrop, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England

1901 Census

Residence 24 Towns End, Neithrop, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England

First name(s)	Last name	Relationship	Marital status	Sex	Age	Birth year	Occupation	Birth place
Frank	Buzzard	Head	Married	Male	38	1863	Blacksmiths striker	Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England
Sarah	Buzzard	Wife	Married	Female	36	1865	–	Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England
Sarah	Buzzard	Daughter	–	Female	13	1888	–	Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England
Edith	Buzzard	Daughter	–	Female	10	1891	–	Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England
Clara	Buzzard	Daughter	–	Female	9	1892	–	Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England
Ashby Henry	Buzzard	Son	–	Male	6	1895	–	Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England
Roxanna	Buzzard	Daughter	–	Female	5	1896	–	Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England
Frank	Buzzard	Son	–	Male	2	1899	–	Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England
Maud Mary	Buzzard	Daughter	–	Female	0	1901	–	Neithrop, Oxfordshire, England

1911 Census

Age: 20

Occupation Machinist – Ladies’ underclothing factory

1916

• Banbury Guardian 3 February 1916. Edith has ring stolen by a soldier and its reported below.

	Women’s Royal Air Force

WW1

Synopsis

Coming from a large Family, Edith may have been influenced by her mother Sarah Turner who was an IronFoundry Labourer at a time when rarely worked. Marrying Thomas Blencowe in 1917 was at a time when he was fighting enlistment and subject to Military Tribunal appeals which were successful at least once before he joined up. His major concern in appealing seems to be looking after an invalid mother and marrying Edith may have addressed this concern for a short period. But by late 1918 Edith had enlisted herself in the newly founded Womens Royal Air Force. In WW2 history repeats itself as Edith may have influenced her daughter Edith Joan to join the same service.

Blencowe (nee Buzzard), Edith, 22254, Aircraft Woman, Women’s Royal Air Force.

• 19^th Oct. 1918 Age 27th years enrolled with WRAF as Edith Blencowe wife of Thomas ( b.1888 Banbury) On active service with the Royal Navy she states but, actually he was with RAF. Was this a deliberate mistake to allow her to join her husband at RAF Halton. The address was given as 2 Golden Villas, Banbury. Typical call-up letter below.
• Posted to Technical Training School, RAF Halton Bucks. The enlistment document indicates that Edith was employed to work at RAF Halton in the RAF School of Technical Training. This was likely an administrative role. Note: Thomas was working there in an Accounting role and it may be she joined up to be with him.

  

Notes

1. RAF Halton. Lord Trenchard established the No. 1 School of Technical Training at RAF Halton for RAF aircraft apprentices, which remained at the station until it moved to RAF Cosford in the early 1990s.
2. Women’s Royal Air Force. The WRAF was a new service arm formed in 1918 and distinguished itself from other service arms with its strict rules and selection process. The age for joining the WRAF (the name for members) was 18 and the selection process was complex. Stringent health checks often excluded many poor candidates from polluted cities. Those from educated, upper-class families were enrolled as officers, whilst the majority were known as ‘Members’ and became the backbone of the service. WRAFs fell into two categories. ‘Immobile’s’ lived at home and were attached to their local station. ‘Mobiles’ lived in quarters on or near their workplace and could be transferred elsewhere if required. Behaviour was strictly monitored with the WRAF constitution and rules laid out in an official booklet. The published Standing Orders included a ban on smoking on duty and in the street, as well as uniform requirements and the procedure for complaints. The high standards achieved by the WRAF led them to be viewed as the most professional and disciplined of all the women’s services.

After the War

1921 Census

2 Golden Villas, Neithrop, Banbury

1939 Census

Cottscombe Farm Swerford , Chipping Norton R.D., Oxfordshire, England

Edith Blencowe 24 Oct 1891 Female Unpaid Domestic Du Married
Thomas Blencowe 15 Jun 1888 Male Com Merchants Manager Married
Thomas B Blencowe 15 Jul 1920 Male ??? Single Cottscombe Farm, Swerford, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England

Note three others not disclosed could be children Derrick R 1928, Evan R 1930 and David c 1935.
Howard R Roberts 13 May 1907 Male Farmer Married
Eva K Roberts 07 Jun 1897 Female Unpaid Domestic D Married

Death 1964