Blencowes of St Edward‘s School, Oxford

Sportsmen and Soldiers

In our ‘Blencowe Families’ book I wrote at some length (pp.58-59)about the two brothers, Lawrence and Oswald Blencowe, of the Marston St Lawrence family, both educated at St Edward's and subsequently killed in action in World War One. I also mentioned their cousin, Alan, (p.362) who was at St Edward's at the same time. What I didn't know then was that all three were members of both the School Cricket XI and the Rugby Football XV. Surely a most unusual achievement for any family.

The cover photograph, shown with the permission of St Edward's School, is of the 1905 Rugger XV. Lawrence is seated centre as Captain. On his left is Oswald, and Alan is in the front row, second from the left. The 1906 Cricket XI, also captained by Lawrence, shows the three Blencowes; Oswald again on Lawrence's left, but this time Alan is seated below Oswald.

Lawrence and Oswald were in the school cricket XI for five years. Lawrence 1902-1906, the final year as Captain, and Oswald 1904-1908 with his last two years as Captain. Alan was only in the 1906 XI.

Lawrence was in the School rugger XV from 1902-1906 and was Captain in the final year. Oswald was in the side 1905-1907, the last year he was captain. Alan was in the XV in 1905 only.

It is said that the Blencowe brothers were the supreme sportsmen of their generation at St Edward's and excelled at all sports including boxing, fives, lawn tennis, athletics and gymnastics.

Millington Sing, former Warden of St Edward's, wrote in 1925 that Lawrence Blencowe ‘Might well be reckoned to be the greatest footballer of all the St. Edwards old pupils’. Oswald was always felt to be a little under the shadow of his elder brother but once Lawrence left, he came into his own and as a wing three quarter, excelled and was well supported by a team who appreciated his captaincy.

At Oxford University, Lawrence was awarded his ‘Rugger Blue’, later captaining Yorkshire and the North of England against South Africa, and was awarded an English Rugby Football Cap but turned down the opportunity to play against France, as the match was to be played on a Sunday.

After University, both brothers went to teach at the same school, Orleton, Scarborough. There Lawrence became engaged to Dorothy Cooper, the founder's daughter, whom he later married. It was generally expected that he would have become Headmaster in due course. However, the War intervened. It was agreed between the brothers that Lawrence would stay at the school and Oswald would volunteer. He enlisted, became a 2nd Lieutenant in the Oxfordshire and Buckingham Light Infantry only to be killed, aged 26, on 7th October 1916. Lawrence then enlisted joined the King's London Scottish as 2nd Lt. and was himself killed, aged 29. It is said that England lost the Flower of its Manhood in those terrible and sad days of 1914-1918. Those two Blencowe brothers must be included as part of this. As it says on their memorial in Marston St Lawrence Church “They died for England. They were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in death they were not divided”.

Peter Blencowe,
Walderton, March 2005.