William Thomas Blencowe [9738]

known as Billie

1918-1971

Father Nm: Thomas William Blencowe  [4438]  born 1893 Rotherhithe died 1971 Perth

Mother Nm: Florence Rosetta Tull born 28 March 1894 Rotherhithe died Perth

Marriage Dt:

March 1945

K comments: Father Tom served in both wars wounded in WW1 and served in Defence.  Force in WW2. His wife Mena served in the Australian Womens Army Service AWAS and  his Brother Herbert John also served in WW2
Spouse comments: Mena Evelina Harvey was born on 18 Jan 1915 in Parkside Sa. She died on 23 Feb 1998 at age of 83 years.

Children. Peter Harvey Blencowe, David Ernest Blencowe, Prudence Ann Blencowe (1950-1974) and Andrew Blencowe 1954

Born 1918

23. July 1918 Rotherhithe London

1930

• February. Still living in Northcliffe Herbert and brother William go missing  in the bush

Three brothers Herbert John left Stanley and right Billie

William Thomas Blencowe [9738] 1918- Service document

1938

• Welder living in Perth, WA having worked 5 years at a Blacksmiths shop Harris Scarfe Sandovers of West Perth..

WW2

Blencowe Thomas William Private  247568, Militia, 13th Bde Signals, Fitter 2E Corporal 16342 RAAF  RAAF 85 Squadron

Synopsis

William Thomas Blencowe or Billie as he was known was born in 1918 and grew up in a military family his dad served in both world wars. However when war came around in 1939 he primarily was looking to better his career prospects a welder in a blacksmiths shop he wanted to become a qualified mechanic. So in 1940 he applied to become trained by the Royal Australian Air Force as a Fitter. He was tested by the RAAF but failed the fitter’s exam so he got together three strong character references from his employer etc and pressed on with his application. He was accepted for the training program. In 1941 he qualified as a fitter and was sent to Pearce on Australia’s south coast where he joined 14 Squadron to maintain Lockheed Hudson aircraft that were patrolling the coastline looking for Japanese submarines.
Sometime, during this period in South Australia, he met Corporal Mena Evelina Harvey of the Australian Women’s Army, they fell in love and planned for the future after the war.
In 1943 Billie was sent to North Africa and Jerusalem and then as the allies invaded Italy, he joined 450 Squadron in Malta and Sicily. He was based in Italy after this invasion maintaining another American fighter the Kittyhawk. Billie stayed in Europe until March 1945 when he was sent home. In July he and Mena married he was to carry on until the end of the war supporting 85 Squadron another coastal patrol duty. The couple settled in Adelaide and had four children there. Billie died in 1971 and Mena in 1998.

1939

• February. Joined the 13th Brigade Signals Militiain Perth

1940

• April. Applied for RAAF Fotters role in Perth.
• 30 April. Enlisted for the duration of war age 21 yrs. Posted to No. 4 Aircraft Depot Victoria.
• 27 May. Posted to No 4 School for Technical Training
• 1 October. Attended Engineering training at No  1 ETS Ascot Vale.

1941-1943

• 8 March. Posted to 14 Squadron based at RAAF Pearce in Western Australia. Flying Lockheed Hudsons from early 1941 the Squadron was tasked with providing anti-submarine patrols along the WA coast without ever sighting any. “However, on 3 Mar 1942, a Hudson from the squadron was destroyed by Japanese aircraft in a raid on Broome. In December 1942 the squadron was re-equipped with Bristol Beaufort aircraft. On several occasions, probable threats of enemy activity caused higher patrol workloads, but by 1945 patrol activity was declining and on 23 May 1945 the squadron ceased making regular anti-submarine patrols.” source https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/No._14_Squadron_RAAF

Note: At this point some contradictions appear between Alan Blencowes Photographs and notes versus the service records and history of 450 Squadron. The records appear to show October 1943 as time for Bllie to go overseas  to join 450 Squadron , yet photos indicate he was in Jerusalem charistmas 1943 whereas Squadron was based in Malta and Sicliy for the later part of 1943. It could be they are all accurate and that Billie while with Maintenance crew of 450 Sq he was based in Jerusalem to do his work.

1943-45 North africa- europe

 

• Changing an Engine in “1942” as per Alan Blencowe this may be an error and its 1943 it certainly looks like North Africa or Jerusalem.

  

• 1 October. Posted to 450 Squadron. Malta. “On 13 Jul 1943, the squadron re-located to Malta from where they participated in the Allied invasion of Sicily, followed by the Italian campaign, primarily in a close support role to troops on the ground, regularly changing airfields on the Italian mainland to follow the front lines. In May 1945 they began to be re-equipped with North American P-51 Mustang fighters, but were disbanded at Lavariano (northeast Italy) on 20 Aug 1945 without having used these aircraft in combat.”https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/No._14_Squadron_RAAF
• A portrait of Billie in Italy Christmas 1943.

• 

1945

• 5 February, Repatriated to Melbourne.
• 11 May. Posted to 85 Squadron. based in Western Australia a Spitfire squadron on ocean and coast patrol of Australia.
• 14 August. Discharged at own request.

Medals

Sources

1. 1. Ancestry  and BFA database
   2. RAAF Records
   3. https://birtwistlewiki.com.au

1945

Shortly after arriving home Billie and Mena married. on 21 June 1945 in Adelaide

 

After the War

Billie and Mena living at 48 Anzac Highway Glenelg SA after the war

Death 1971

He died on 3 Feb 1995 at age of 76 years.

Gallery

Name BLENCOWE, WILLIAM THOMAS
Service Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number 16342
Date of Birth 23 Jul 1918
Place of Birth LONDON, ENGLAND
Date of Enlistment 30 Apr 1940
Locality on Enlistment MOUNT HAWTHORNE, WA
Place of Enlistment PERTH, WA
Next of Kin BLENCOWE, MONA
Date of Discharge 14 Aug 1945
Rank Corporal
Posting at Discharge 85 Squadron
Prisoner of War No

supplied by Alan Blencowe of Perth