Lancaster Richard 1919 – Blencowe Family in World War Two

Richard Lancaster

1919-1944

Father Nm: Joseph Lancaster, b. 20 Jun 1893 d. Jul 1964, Don Valley, Yorkshire West Riding

Mother Nm: Clara Ruth Ann Brown, b. 12 Dec 1892 d. Apr Q 1969, Heywood, Lancashire

Marriage Dt: Richard Lancaster and Bride Evelyn Mary Blencowe 9 Sept 1942

K comments:
Spouse comments: Evelyn Mary Blencowe born 6 February 1923 Banbury, died 4 February.2020 Totnes Devon . As a widow married Eric Arthur Jackson who also served with the RAF in WW22

Children.

Born 1919

June Quarter 1919 W.Derby Lancs 8b 354

1939 CENSUS

Not found, probably with Army

WW2

Richard Lancaster, Private, Sergeant, Lieutenant, 285849 6th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders

Synopsis

When Richard Lancaster married Evelyn Blencowe in 1942 at 23 he was a Sergeant with the Seaforth Regiment, which suggest to me he was at some point shortly after to get a Commision as an Officer with the Regiment . Late in 1942, his division was sent to Egypt as part of the British Eighth Army although he may not have gone but instead in this period he undertook Officer training. When he was deployed into combat was like in the Sicily invasion in 1943. In January 1944 when the Italy invasion was undertook, his leadership in combat experience was very limited when he was killed in action leading men in an assault at Anzio

1942

Late 1942 the Regiment deployed to North Africa

1943

January–May : The 6th Seaforths fought in the final stages of the Tunisian Campaign, helping to push Axis forces out of North Africa.
- They were involved in mountain fighting, mine clearance, and combined operations with armor and artillery.
- The division earned praise for its discipline and effectiveness in rugged terrain.
May. After the Axis surrender in Tunisia, the battalion rested and re-equipped in preparation for the next phase
July–August: Sicily Invasion
Landing in Sicily: The 6th Seaforths landed with the 51st Division as part of the British Eighth Army under General Montgomery.Key Actions:Fought through Pachino, Vizzini, and Gerbini.Engaged in hill fighting and urban clearance, often under intense heat and resistance.August 1943: Sicily was secured; the battalion was withdrawn for rest and reorganization.

Map of Operation Huskey
Sicily, 1943
29 August. Promoted to Lieutenant, London Gazette
Oct–Dec 1943 Advance to Gustav Line Central Italy US Fifth & British Eighth Armies. The 51st Div under command of the US 5th Army

1944

After taking part in action on the Gustav Line the 6th Battalion were sent to the Anzio bridgehead to help secure it

January. In January 1944, the 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders was actively engaged in the Italian Campaign, specifically near the Gustav Line, which was the main German defensive position south of Rome.Late January: The battalion endured heavy shelling and sniper fire while holding forward positions near Minturno and Monte Damiano, just north of the Garigliano River.

The movement of Richards battalion in 1943 from Sicily to Gustav Line then onto Anzio beachead in January 1944

Battle of Anzio.
The map shows the lines of attack towards Cisterna and the area that Handel was wounded in

The 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders was part of the 51st (Highland) Division, which had been deployed to Italy in early 1944. By May, they were engaged in the Anzio beachhead operations, a prolonged and bloody stalemate following the Allied landings in January 1944. The goal was to break through German defensive lines and advance toward Rome.
- Late April–Early May 1944: The Allies launched renewed offensives to push inland from Anzio.
- Casualty Conditions: The terrain was swampy, heavily fortified, and under constant artillery and sniper fire. Many officers, including Lancaster, were killed leading platoons in these high-risk assaults.
1 May. Killed in Action.