BORN HULL 1885. 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 JAMES AND FOUR SISTERS, ADA. AMELIA, ETHEL AND MABEL.
BEFORE THE WAR HE WORKED AS A PAINTER & DECORATOR – 102 WEST STREET, SCUNTHORPE. HE WAS A RETIRED FOOTBALLER, A QUALIFIED REFEREE AND A DIRECTOR OF SCUNTHORPE UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB. HE WAS DESCRIBED AS 5 FOOT, 6 INCHES TALL, 35-37 INCH CHEST,
HE MARRIED BEATRICE ANN BOND, AT ST MARY’S CHURCH, LOWGATE, HULL, ON 31/01/1911.
HE ENLISTED ON 11/12/1915. JOINED THE ROYAL ENGINEERS, ON 26/02/1917 & WENT TO FRANCE ON 16/09/1917. HE WAS THEN TRANSFERRED TO THE 1/7TH DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, ON 21/09/1918. WOUNDED BY GUN SHOT TO THE RIGHT SIDE. HE DIED OF WOUNDS, ON 14/04/1918, AGED 33.
JOHN BLENKIN LEFT A WIDOW, BEATRICE & ONE SON, GEORGE (1913-1927). HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE RETURNED TO HIS WIDOW, WHO MOVED TO 102 WEST STREET, SCUNTHORPE, LINCS. (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). THEY INCLUDED A PIPE, CIGARETTE CASE, METAL RING, PURSE AND DIARY. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, WITH HIS PHOTO ON 20TH APRIL 1918.
HE IS BURIED AT LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY. HIS GRAVE INSCRIPTION, READS, “TO MEMORY EVER DEAR”
HIS BROTHER, SERGEANT, JAMES BLENKIN, SERVED WITH 7TH CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, AND WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON 18/04/1918, AGED 35.
