Private. B Company, 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment. Regimental number 265432.
Previous regimental number: 2199.
Early life:
Percy’s parents were Charles Henry Blenkarn and Ann Mary Blenkarn née Pullan. They were married on the 19th of August 1882 at Keighley parish church (probably St. Peter’s.) Charles was a bachelor aged 21 and a clogger living at King Street, Ann Mary was a 19 year old spinster living at Chandos Street.
His two older brothers were Walter Blenkarn and Squire Blenkarn. Walter was born on the 3rd of October 1883 when they were living at Chandos Street and he was baptised several weeks later at St. Peter’s Church on the 19th of November.
His brother Squire Mitchell Blenkarn was born on the 23rd of July 1886 and baptised at St. Peter’s Church on the 22nd of June. They were aged ten and eight respectively when Percy was born.
The family suffered several child deaths. Mary Emma was born on the 11th of September 1889, baptised at St. Peter’s Church on 27th of March 1890 and sadly died that summer. Arthur was born on the 15th of March, 1891 and baptised at St. Peter’s Church and died not long afterwards.
In the 1891 census, Charles and Ann were aged 28 and 26 respectively. Charles was a clogger and they were living at 30, King Street with their sons Squire aged four and Arthur aged three. Walter aged seven was not with them on the night of the census as he was with his maternal grandmother Emma Pullan at 5, Clarendon Street.
On the 26th of February 1893 they had another child called Edgar who was baptised on the 18th of April that year and they were still living at King Street at the time.
Chronologically, Charles and Ann had Percy Naylor at this time and he was born on 17th of April 1894 and he was baptised on the 16th of May 1894 at St. Peter’s Church.
At the end of 1894 the family suffered a double tragedy when baby Edgar and their mother Ann both died. Edgar was aged just one and Ann was aged 30.
This must have placed a terrible strain on Charles as he had lost his wife and a third child which died at a very young age. He now had three young boys to raise and of course Percy was still a baby.
Several years later in the 1901 census, we find Charles married to Ellen. We suspect Ellen was actually Mary Elizabeth Neale, for whom we did find a marriage record to Charles Henry Blenkarn in the third quarter of 1898 at Keighley.
The 1911 census states they had been married for 13 years which would mean they were married in 1898. They are both aged 39 and Charles is employed as a general labourer and seems to have given up working as a clogger. They are living at 57, Burlington Street with Charles’ three sons. Walter aged 17 is employed as an iron turner in a machine shop, Squire is aged 14 and employed as a borer in a machine shop. The youngest, Percy Naylor is six and at school.
In 1910 things had gone badly wrong for Percy. He’d had a difficult life at home and with work and ended up in front of the Keighley Magistrates for breaking and entering and theft. The proceedings in court were recorded in some detail in the Keighley News.
Keighley News, Saturday 12th February 1910 page 4:
TUESDAY
(Before Mr. Joseph Summerscales and Mr. W. Mann.)
HOUSEBREAKER AT FIFTEEN: IN SEARCH OF MONEY.
A fifteen-year-old ropemaker was charged by Arthur Wright, of Ashleigh Street, with house breaking.
Superintendent Birkhead explained that prosecutor was an insurance agent, and Mrs. Wright carried on business as a confectioner in Low Street and North Street. Their residence was daily locked up, and on Friday in last week it was left about 3.30 p.m. On prosecutor returning home at 10.45 he found that someone had entered by the scullery window and had ransacked all the drawers, but nothing had disappeared. No intimation was given to the police at the time, and on the following day the house was left about 1.30 pm. At nine p.m. prosecutor called at the police station, and informed the authorities of what had occurred on the previous day and Inspector Sykes and a constable accompanied him home. On arrival at the house it was found that the place had again been entered. On this occasion three oranges were missing.
It was proposed to deal only with the charge of housebreaking on Saturday evening. Corroborative evidence was given by Arthur Wright, who said that when he went into the house on Saturday evening he found recent footmarks on a chair and on the sewing machine. The back kitchen window was open about an inch, and one of the front office windows was open about two inches. The scullery window had been left open in the afternoon to admit air, but the others had been left secure.
In answer to the Bench, witness said he did not think anyone could have got through the scullery window, though the boy appeared to have done so.
Mrs. Wright also gave evidence, and Sergeant Wall stated that the boy when charged, replied,
“I got into the house by a little window in the kitchen about eight o’clock on Friday night and went into all the rooms. but I did not steal anything. I went in again on Saturday night about six o’clock. I did not steal anything, only three oranges. I looked all over for some money. I wanted it to pay for some clothes the man has bought me that I live with.”
The boy told the whole story to the Bench, and added that he wanted to pay for the clothes straight away. He had paid 6s., and still owed 14s. He was very sorry, and would not offend again.
Superintendent Birkhead said that the boy had no mother and did not live at home, had been neglected by his father, and did not appear to know right from wrong. He considered that sending the boy away to a school would be the best thing for him, because he would be looked after and taught a trade. In answer to the Bench, prisoner said he was a ropemaker and earned 10s. per week, out of which he had to pay 9s. 6d. per week to the man with whom he lodged. Mr. Summerscales said that as a protection, not as a punishment the boy would be sent to a reformatory school until he was nineteen. He would there be kept straight, and he (Mr. Summerscales) hoped he would come out an honest and straightforward man.
Percy’s name is not mentioned in the newspaper report, probably because he was a juvenile. However, the Calder Farm Reformatory School records give full details of Percy’s case and all the details match the newspaper report:
Calder Farm Reformatory School Records:
Name Percy Blenkarn
Gender Male
Age 15
Birth Date 17 Apr 1894
Event Date 15 Feb 1910
Residence Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England
Father Charles Henry Blenkarn
Record Type Admission
Volume Date Range 1908 – 1914
Reference Number WRT/1/77
Register Numbers 1469-1802
Institution Calder Farm
No: 1528.
Particulars regarding: Percy Blenkarn
Application from: The Keighley Borough Justices.
Boy’s name: Percy Blenkarn
Age (date of birth if known): 15 years. Born 17th April 1894.
Late residence: 50, Low Bridge, Keighley.
Questions:
Has he been previously charged with crime, or any offence punishable by law? And if so, how often and what punishment was received? No.
For what offence now committed to a reformatory school? Breaking and entering a dwelling house and stealing three oranges.
Where, when and at what court, and before whom convicted? Keighley, 15th February 1910. Borough court. Joseph Summerscales & William Mann Esqs. Summary or indictment.
Sentence: Until 19.
State of education: Reads well. Writes well.
Name and address of parents: Father Charles Henry Blenkarn, 57, Burlington Street, Keighley. Labourer.
Mother: Dead.
Religious denomination: Wesleyan.
Signature of party making application: Henry Waddington, Clerk to the Justices.
Date: 15th February 1910.
MEDICAL ENQUIRY.
Is the boy generally sound and healthy? Yes.
Has he been successfully vaccinated? No.
Is he free from cutaneous disease? Yes.
Is he of sound intellect? Yes.
Is he subject to fits? No.
Is his eyesight good? Fairly good in right, Left eye deficient.
Is he fit for industrial work? Yes.
Medical officer’s signature: J. Nicholson Dobie MB etc.
Description and particulars obtained from the boy: Percy Blenkarn and other sources after his admission,
Register no. 1528. Date of admission: 15th February 1910.
Date of birth: 17th April 1894.
Height: 5 ft 2 inches.
Complexion: Fresh.
Hair: Light brown.
Eyes: Grey.
Figure: Stout.
Trade -.
Weight: 7 st 5 Lbs.
Condition of teeth: two top front teeth, enamel decayed. Fourth on top right extracted.
Identification marks: Abscess scar left jaw. Cut scar right side of face.
Has he been baptised? If so, where? Does not know.
What school has he attended? Does not know.
Writing – boy’s signature (Signed – Percy Blenkarn)
Reading and arithmetic: St. III
Has he read harmful literature? Library books, chiefly tales of adventure.
What occupation has he followed, if any? Has worked about 9 months at a twine factory Messrs. Isaac Sharpe.
If a vagrant, how long has he lived that kind of life, and what company has he kept? Not a vagrant. Slept out on a doorstep once because afraid to go in – father drunk.
Under what circumstances was the present crime committed, and what led to the perpetration of it? Had been working for a man who “sacked” him because he once went late. Was in lodgings & wanted to pay so broke into the house to get something to pay with.
What are the occupations and circumstances of his parents, or other friends, with whom he has lived? Father a labourer. About 18 shillings per week.
What is their character for industry, honesty and sobriety? Questionable.
To what religious persuasion do they belong? Does not attend public worship.
Has the boy been harshly treated by any of them? Not been properly cared for. (A board inspector took him away from his home on this account.)
Has he been under parental control or otherwise? Yes.
Boy’s other relations and friends and their addresses. Brother Squire Blenkarn. 20, Sun Street, Keighley.
Brother Walter Blenkarn. Park Lane.
In the 1911 census Percy was recorded as aged 16 and an inmate at Calder Farm Reformatory School. This establishment was at Hopton, Mirfield, near Dewsbury. Another local lad who was there was Walter Brook, who got there in similar circumstances to Percy.
Percy married Alice Frances Hillary, registered at Keighley in the first quarter of 1915.
War service:
Percy was already serving with the Haworth Territorials when war broke out. He would have been called up and gone into training for overseas service, requiring him to sign the form for overseas service and probably received an Imperial Service Badge. His name is recorded on the nominal roll for the 1/6th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment which left Folkestone on SS Onward, heading for Boulogne on 13th April 1915 and arriving the next day.
Percy would have served with them continuously until he was wounded in 1916 when he received a shrapnel wound in his right shoulder and this was detailed in the local newspaper and in the battalion war diary.
Keighley News 12th August 1916, page 5:
Private Percy Naylor Blenkarn, West Riding Regiment, of 1, Ivy Street South, Spring Bank, Keighley, has been wounded. He was a member of the local Territorials at the outbreak of the war, and went out to France in April, 1915. Formerly he was employed by the Colonial Combing Company at Melbourne Mills, Keighley.
War diary entry:
WO-95/2801/2. West Riding Regiment. July 1916.
NORTHERN BLUFF. (this location believed to be South West of Thiepval and North of Authuille)
12th:
A fairly quiet day, Enemy sent odd shells throughout the day which caused some casualties. The weather was fine, but cold for the time of year.
Casualties:-
No. 2769 Private Gaunt, J. C Company, Shell wound in jaw.
No. 1786 Corporal Horner, J. D Company, Wounded in hand (remained on duty)
No. 4152 Private Kelly, G. B Company, Wounded in right leg.
No. 2199 Private Blenkarn, P. B Company, Shrapnel wound in right shoulder.
No. 4734 Private Ward, A. B Company, Shrapnel wound in left foot.
No. 2799 Private Smith, W. B Company, Wounded in right arm.
No. 2590 Private Tillotson, J. E. D Company, wounded in armpit.
No. 4410 Private Pawson, P. C Company, Killed. Buried in Black Horse Cemetery. W.6.a.2.2.
This wound took him out of front line service for a while and he would have been issued with a wound badge. On recovery he would have gone back to his unit.
Son born:
Percy and Alice’s first son Percy was born and registered at Keighley in the last quarter of 1916. It is possible that Percy was allowed leave home and if his recovery took place in the UK then this is more likely. Sadly Percy junior died a few months later and his death was registered at Keighley in the second quarter of 1917.
From the 1st of March 1917 the Territorial Force Infantry soldiers were renumbered from their original four digit number (in Percy’s case this was 2199) to six figure numbers, Percy’s new number was 265432.
He continued serving in and out of the front lines with the 1/6th Battalion until July 1918 when he was taken prisoner near Bailleul. Again, this was mentioned in the local newspaper and the battalion war diary.
Keighley News 15th June 1918, page 3:
Private P. N. Blenkarn, of the West Riding Regiment, who was posted missing since April 10, is a prisoner of war. He had been in France since 1915, being mobilized with the Haworth Territorials. His wife resides at 1, Ivy Street South, Keighley.
War diary:
WO-95/2801/4. West Riding Regiment, April 1918.
Percy is named as missing on the casualties list (page 55) in the war diary:
The diary entry for 15th April reads:
15th Apr 1918.
4 am: The Battalion was relieved in the early morning, at 4 am., by two companies of the 5th North Staffordshire Regiment. On relief, the battalion proceeded to the vicinity of a farm near ST. JANS CAPPEL (map reference S1d, sheet 28) where breakfasts were served and the men cleaned their rifles and Lewis guns and rested.
6 am: orders were received that, in case of emergency, the battalion would hold a reserve line (not yet dug) just in front of road in S1d (map reference.)
11 am: the battalion was placed in the 9th. Corps reserve.
5 pm: At about 5 pm., it became very evident that it was necessary to dig the aforementioned reserve line with all speed as the enemy was reported to be attacking from Bailleul to Crucifix Corner S.18.b. (map reference.) Tools were got up and the line was dug and manned. Situation quiet.
7.45 pm: At about 7.45 pm, our troops who had relieved us the previous night (and others) were seen withdrawing from south of BAILLEUL & much confusion was caused by the bad state of their morale and to the fact that they crowded into our trenches and did not appear to have the slightest organisation.
11 pm: At about 11 pm, orders were received to send all the 176th Brigade back to LOCRE and as soon as the line was cleared, work proceeded again. Patrols were pushed out with a view to gaining early news of the enemy’s presence.
On page six of the Casualties list for this day was 265432 Private P. N. Blenkarn (Missing.)
Percy had been taken prisoner on this date (although the Keighley News report featured above states he went missing on the 10th April.)
52049
LIST OF BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR ARRIVED IN ENGLAND (DOVER) 19TH NOVEMBER, 1918.
NOTIFIED BY EMBARKATION OFFICER – CALAIS.
NO 1 RECORD OFFICE WARLEY LIST NO. X. 89024.
265432 Pte. Blankern B. 1/8 W. Ridings
This should read:
265432 Pte. Blenkarn P. 1/6 W. Riding.
Despite the misspelling of his name and the wrong initial and battalion number we believe this is him. The regimental number is a correct match and we have found no other Red Cross prisoner of war record matching his details.
A check of several other 1/6th Battalion men who were taken prisoner around the same time shows they were all held prisoner at Armentieres and Percy is likely to have been with them.
We did not find a record showing where Percy had been held, but we know he arrived back in the UK on the 19th of November 1918.
Whilst Percy was still missing and presumed dead, with a date of death notification of 14th May 1918, a pension card was raised and an application made although no pension was issued. The card has a handwritten note stating ‘man alive, C2 Cas 23/7/20 LB’ The card states that Alice was living at 1, Ivy Street South, Ingrow.
Percy was disembodied from the Army on 23rd March 1919.
Post war:
Percy and Alice had another child, a son called Charles C. Blenkarn. His birth was registered in the second quarter of 1920 at Keighley. his apparent birth date was the 24th of April 1920.
In the 1921 census Percy, Alice and Charles were living at 21, Campbell Street in Keighley. Percy was aged 27 and a boiler firer for Frankel and Henderson of the Colonial Combing Company. This means that he was given employment by the same company he worked for before the war.
Alice was aged 32 and on ‘Home duties’ and their son Charles Cyril was aged just one year and two months.
Also present at this address on the date of the census was Bertie Millbank Hillary aged 25 and an iron turner for Hall and Stell machine makers, his wife Ethel aged 24 and on ‘Home duties’ and their daughter Murial who was aged two years and six months. This house was late demolished and the Ling House medical centre now stands on this spot.
Percy received his war service medals which would have arrived in 1920 or 1921. These were the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Percy died at the age of 34 in 1928 and his death was registered in the second quarter of the year at Keighley.
In the 1939 register, Percy’s widow Alice was living at 13, Barley Street, Ingrow with Stephen and Margaret Fox. She was recorded as ‘incapacitated (spinner)’ and would have been aged about 51.
Alice died in 1962 aged 73. Her death was registered in the Worth Valley in the first quarter of the year.
Percy and Alice’s son Charles Cyril Blenkarn was living at 5, Ash Grove, Ingrow with the Rushton family. He was aged 19 and a setter (textile worker.)
He died aged 75 in 1995 and his death was registered at Keighley in the second quarter of the year.
Note:
The stigma associated with reform school was that it was a punishment for juvenile delinquents and young criminal elements. The newspaper account makes sure to mention that the police and courts viewed him being sent to reform school as a way to remove the bad influences in his life, learn a trade, and to bring him back on to ‘the straight and narrow.’
When Percy returned to public life, he met Alice, got married and raised children and was also serving in the local Territorial battalion. When the call came, he served his country in the war and surviving a bad wound, he returned to the front lines. Despite what must have been a harrowing time as a prisoner of war, he survived that too and several years later was gainfully employed with a family and home in Keighley. His death at a rather early age was tragic, but we can clearly see that he had made something of himself.
Information sources
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
England & Wales marriages 1837-2008 Transcription.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
West Yorkshire, England, Reformatory School Records, 1856-1914.
National archives war diaries. WO-95/2801/2. West Riding Regiment.
International Committee of the Red Cross Prisoner of war archives.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007.
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
1921 England Census.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
1939 England and Wales Register.
