BORN HULL 18/03/1883. SON OF JAMES BLENKIN (1845-1923) AND BARBABA ANN MAWBY (1845-1920), OF 66, SCULCOATES LANE, HULL. HIS FATHER WAS A GAS WORKS LABOURER. HIS MOTHER WAS A BAKER AND SHOP KEEPER. HE HAD TWO BROTHERS, GEORGE AND JOHN AND FOUR SISTERS, ADA. AMELIA, ETHEL AND MABEL.
HE WAS A BRICKLAYER AND CARPENTER. HE HAD ALSO SERVED SEVEN YEARS WITH THE 2ND EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT. HE EMIGRATED TO CANADA, IN FEBRUARY 1908.
HE MARRIED ON 10/12/1908, IN ONTARIO, CANADA. HIS WIFE FRANCES ANN FOSTON, OF DUNBARTON, ONTARIO, LIVED 109 HIAWARTHA ROAD, TORONTO, CANADA. THEY HAD THREE SMALL CHILDREN. HE WORKED FIVE YEARS AS AN INSPECTOR, IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, CITY HALL. WAS A MEMBER OF THE LODGE LICHFIELD AND THE CITY HALL, 204TH (BEAVERS) BATTALION, TORONTO (837 MEN SERVED IN THE WAR, 105 WERE KILLED).
DESCRIBED AS NEARLY 5 FOOT 10 INCHES TALL. BROWN HAIR, GREY EYES, FAIR COMPLEXION. CHURCH OF ENGLAND RELIGION. SCARS ON BOTH KNEES AND FOREHEAD.
HE ENLISTED IN CANADA IN FEBRUARY 1916, AGED 33. POSTED OVERSEAS IN MARCH 1917. HE LEFT ENGLAND FOR FRANCE IN AUGUST 1917. SERVED AS A PRIVATE, IN THE 7TH CANADIAN RAILWAY TROOPS. PROMOTED TO SERGEANT FOR GALLANTRY IN THE FIELD. KILLED BY A SHELL BURST, OUTSIDE HIS TENT AND DIED AN HOUR LATER AT THE 23RD CASUALTY CLEARING STATION. HIS ARMY EFFECTS AND WILL WENT TO HIS WIDOW, FRANCES ANN.
HIS DEATH ON 18/04/1918, AGED 35, WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL ON 10/04/1919.
HE IS BURIED AT THE LAPUGNOY MILITARY CEMETERY. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “BELOVED HUSBAND OF FRANCES A. BLENKIN DUNBARTON, ONTARIO, CANADA”
HE IS COMMEMORATED WITH HIS BROTHER, JOHN BLENKIN, ON ST MARY CHURCH MEMORIAL, SCULCOATES LANE, HULL.
