james frederick (jim) blencowe

1907-1988

Father Nm: William Albert Blencowe 1875-1966 b. Ontario

Mother Nm: Edith Sophy Middleton b.1839 -1908  Uxbridge, Ontario

Marriage Dt: 27 Jan 1926 Marriage Place: York, Ontario, Canada

K comments: Three brothers also served in WW2; the youngest brother Robert William was Killed in Action on the Rhine in 1945. Brother John Ross served alongside Jim in Italy with the 48th Highlanders and was also wounded in 1943. George Theodore served overseas. Uncle George Blencowe also of Newmarket Ontario 1864-1933 served in WW1

Note: George Bricknell Blencowe was in fact 50 years of age when he enlisted he was born in 1864 in Banbury, Northamptonshire.
He had served with the 12th York Rangers in 1885.
In 1885 there was an unsuccessful uprising in Saskatchewan by the Metis people, George was mobilised into the 12th Bn York Rangers. The 12th Battalion of Infantry (York Rangers) mobilised four companies for active service on 10 April 1885. The companies served with the York and Simcoe Provisional Battalion in the Alberta Column of the North-West Field Force. The force crushed the opposition and the companies were removed from active service on 24 July 1885.

In WW1 served in France with 74th CEF and 3rd and 4th Labour battalions. George was honourably discharged 1 Mar 1918 age 54 yrs.)

Spouse comments: Hope Doreen Good 1907–1983. BIRTH 29 DEC 1907 • York Ontario
DEATH 21 JUN 1983 • Ontario

(Research): Ontario Births, 1869-1912

Oldest Known Ancestor: Thomas Blencowe d1755 Kings Sutton.

Children:

Birth

17 APR 1907 • Bruce, Ontario,

Before the War

1921 Census

Newmarket

Wm Blencowe 46
Edith Blencowe 40
Jan Blencowe 14
Mary G Blencowe 12
Kenneth Blencowe 10
Margaret Blencowe 8
Jab Blencowe 6
Olive Blencowe 4
Geo L Blencowe 2
Robt Blencowe 10/12

WW2

Private, James Frederick Blencowe, 48th Highlanders of Canada, Service Number: Unknown

 

1940

• 10 January. Joined the 48th Highlanders. He likely left before his brother Ross and was in the next action of the 48th Highlanders.
• July. Arrived with 48th Highlanders who had just returned from a short foray in France.
• September. Ross and brother James on leave visited the home of their Ancestors Banbury and wrote home to their mother, this was covered in this Newmarket Era article 3 October 1940.

  

1941-42

• The 48th Highlanders in England

1943

• 10th July. Sicily Invasion as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division.While combat was not heavy at first, heat and dust were a major hindrance..

  

  

• 1 October- 6 November Fighting on the upper Fortore and Biferno. The 48th Highlanders advance to Salcito.

  

• Advance to Ortona. The Adriatic port of Ortona became a key target to secure for the allies and from 28 Nov to its complete capture on 4 Jan 1944, it was the scene of some vicious fighting house to house combat etc.

  

• 21st December. Wounded (newspaper report). The official history doesn’t mention the 48th Highlanders on the 21st but it was the first day that Canadian 1st Bde troops began the street fighting in Ortona.  Jim wounded would have been carried to Casualty Clearing Centre and then shipped to a hospital in Italy.
• 22 December. Admitted to a Canadian hospital either No 1 at Andria or more likely No 14 at Caserta as was closer. Both these hospitals recently newly opened in December 1943.

1944

• January 1944 Newspaper article reports two brothers wounded in1943

  

• 11-23 May. The breaching of the Hitler Line. One of the key battles the 48th Highlanders were involved in in 1944.
• 4-21 September.The Breaking of the Gothic Line.

 1945

• • 22 March. Returned home to Canada see newspaper article.

    

1988 Death

Name: James Frederick Blencowe
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 17 Apr 1907
Birth Place: Bruce, Bruce County, Ontario, Canada
Death Date: 6 Sep 1988
Cemetery: Newmarket Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place: Newmarket, York Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada
Has Bio?: Y
Father: William Albert Blencowe
Mother: Edith Blencowe
Spouse: Hope Doreen Blencowe
Children: Margaret D Ritchie

Medals

Sources

1. Army Records
2. Ancestry Military Tree of Blencowes ww2
3. 48th Highlanders war diary
4. Official History of Canadian Forces

Gallery