buckinghamshire

There are some (in parts contradictory) details at: wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ri...

The 1901 census has Reginald aged 6 living with his parents, brother Newman 4, and sister May 13 at The Manse, Church Road, Lyminge. His father was a Wesleyan minister and his mother's family manufactured needles. By 1911 when he was 16 he was a boarder at Kingswood School, Landowne Road, Bath. He appears in the De Ruvigny Roll of Honour 1914-1924 and it states that he was born 9th June 1894 and educated at Kingswood School, Bath. He then entered the Hull branch of the London Joint Stock Bank and joined the Lincoln Inns of Court OTC (officer training Corps) on 10th June 1915. He was gazetted as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment on 11th December 1915. He was first appointed to the 27th battalion and then later to the 2nd battalion. He went to France on 15th July 1916 and was killed at Serre on 18th November 1916. His commander wrote of him as a most promising officer and Capt Keeley of the 27th battalion wrote ' He did not know the meaning of fear and was always persevering and conscientious in all his duties and his first thought was always for his men.' At the time of his death the family were living at 12 St Giles Croft, Beverley, Yorkshire. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Reginald takes his second name Blencowe from his Grandmother Mary Anne Blencowe born 1825 Brackely. Reginald and his company were killed wounded or taken POW when they were involved in a disastrous attack on 18th November 1916 this from website at www.themanchesters.org/2nd batt.htm "On the 18th November the 2nd battalion, still short of bombs, attacked from Lager Alley and on to Munich Trench and Trench 28. " The Manchesters gained their objective and were the only regiment to do so" the company that was covering their flank were ambushed from a dugout that hadn't been cleared, "The company got into Munich and 28th Trench but were unable to advance or withdraw, bombs were scarce, the Germans were on both sides of them and advancing up a trench in front of them. when a dugout caught fire and the smoke was so dense that the men had to put on their gas masks. This party was all killed, wounded or taken prisoner." the place was found later with all their bodies grouped together. 'The second battalion was practically wiped out' Brigade Commander."

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