Lt Jasper Scawen Blunt RFA

[Gunga Din]

Hello. 

 

I am trying to research Lt Jasper Scawen Blunt RFA. I have his MIC which shows he was RFA (although Ancestry have him indexed under RHA) and we know he disembarked in France on the 2nd Aug 1917. The BWM & VM rolls add no further info. He survived the war. That is all I know. I am particularly interested in trying to establish which Battery or unit(s) he served with. I don't have access to the National Archives and have little experience researching Officers' records. Any pointers would be well received. 

 

Gunga Din.

[ForeignGong]

If this is the same chap then he was awarded a Greek medal WW2

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35519/supplement/1595

 

and an American one

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38122/supplement/5352

 

 

Edited 23 October , 2018 by ForeignGong

[jonbem]

You could check the Army Lists on National Library of Scotland

 

regards

Jon

[ForeignGong]

He is MID

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35821/supplement/5439

 

you may wish to go through these

 

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/notice?end-publish-date=1999-12-01&text="J.+S.+Blunt"&start-publish-date=1914-06-01&location-distance-1=1&service=all-notices&categorycode-all=all&numberOfLocationSearches=1

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

This is his birth registration:

Births Sep 1898   (>99%)
BLUNT	Jasper Scawen		Wangford	4a	1026

 

 

 

And this will probably be his death registration:

Deaths Dec 1968   (>99%)
BLUNT	JASPER S	70	I.WIGHT	6B	968

Edited 23 October , 2018 by Dai Bach y Sowldiwr

[clk]

Hi,

 

29 minutes ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said:

This might be his death registration

 

I think that it is. FMP has a transcription in their 'British Army, Royal Artillery Officer Deaths 1850-2011' which reads as:

 

Rank: Lt Col (Hon. Brigadier)

First names: Jasper Scawen

Last name: Blunt

Birth year: 1893

Age: 75

Death year: 1968

Death date: 16th November 1968

Place: Cowes, Isle of Wight

 

Regards

Chris

 

Edit:

 

Albeit with an incorrectly spelt middle name, it looks like he served post war with the admin number of P/5401

 

Image source: The National Archives - file WO 338/2/17

 

If that is the case, his file is held by the MoD.

 

A copy would cost £30 - see here. There is no need to provide a copy death certificate.There is a help desk phone number here.

 

NB The DoB shown would tie back to the age on the death registration extract which DByS posted, putting them at odds with the FMP transcription of age, and presumably calculated birth year.

Edited 23 October , 2018 by clk

[HarryBrook]

The announcement of his death was published in The Times on 19 November 1968, and, on 5 December 1968, an appreciation of his later service was published.

 

[Mark1959]

Himself

Edited 23 October , 2018 by Mark1959

[Gunga Din]

Dear all. Thank you for the overwhelming response. I am most grateful. Also to those who sent PMs. 

 

The one missing piece of this jigsaw is which unit (Battery) he first served with in the Great War. Any ideas?

 

Thank you again.

 

Gunga Din

[jonbem]

In 1918 Gazette https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31086/supplement/15167/data.pdf

 

War Office, 30th December, 1918. REGULAR FORCES. COMMANDS AND STAFF. The undermentioned appts. are made:— PERSONAL STAFF. A.D.C.—2nd Lt. R. A. Seel, R.A., Spec. Res. 2nd July 1918. 2nd Lt. J. S. Blunt, R.A., and to be seed., vice 2nd Lt. R. A. Seel, R.A., Spec. Res. llth Sept. 1918. Lt. F. J. E. A. Heilgers, llth Lond. R., T.F., and to bei seed., vio© Lt. V. C. S. Mellor, 5th K.R. Rif. C., Spec. Res. 19th Sept. 1918. Capt. E. T. Cripps, Glouc. Yeo., T.F1 ., and to be seed., vice Capt. F. E. C. Blake, North'd Yeo., T.F. 22nd Sept. 1918. Oapt. Sir R. G. W. Grierson, Bt.j 5th K.O. Sco. Bord., T.F., relinquishes his appt. 20th Mar. 1918.

[Mark1959]

Transcribed record from the 29th Divisional Artillery War Record and Honours Book 1915-1918" compiled by Lieutenant Colonel R.M. Johnson C.M.G, D.S.O and published in 1921:

Wounded 21/11/17  2Lt J S Blunt 1/1st Warwickshire Battery RHA. 29th Divisional Artillery

This man is on the War Office Wounded List 5/12/17

Have investigated 3 local men in this unit. Will see what I have to see if I can prove it is the correct JSB.

edit

FMP has the original admission Queen Alexandra Military Hospital Millbank record for this wounding - GSW both thighs. Give this man's age as 19 y 7m and 5 in field force.Admitted 24 or 25/11/17. Back to duty 24/12/17.

Jasper seems to have been born on 6/7/1898. So we are close to the correct age. 

There is a 2Lt JS Blunt catching the flu when in the RFA Cadet School July-Aug 1918,

The 29 Div book say he was with the battery 3/8/17 to 21/11/17(wounded). I can say based on what I know that they were at Langemarck in Aug 1917 because one of my chaps got a Bar to his MM there. By the 30/11/17 they were at Cambrai as the same chap was gassed there. 

 

Frustratingly close!! rflory may be the man to solve the puzzle!

PS Only have the WD to end Oct 1916.

Commission:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30119/supplement/5633

 

PPS

JS Blunt's wounding is mentioned on 26/11/17 as being slightly wounded on 21/11 attached Essex Regt. The WD is that of 15 Brigade RHA, The 1/1 War RHA is a bit mixed up in it. My man's wounding is shown on 30/11

 

Edited 23 October , 2018 by Mark1959

[seaJane]

Any relation to poet Wilfrid Scawen Blunt?

[BullerTurner]

"Any relation to poet Wilfrid Scawen Blunt?"

 

I knew the name name sounded familiar but it's late and I'm tired!!

[seaJane]

Sorry! Can't be a son, as apparently only WSB's daughter Judith survived to adulthood. 

 

Will investigate...

[Mark1959]

JSB’s Dad was Arthur SB. His Dad Francis Charles B. And his Dad by the look of it Samuel B. Cannot see how Wilfred fits in but does not look like he is on a direct line. 

[seaJane]

Wilfrid's father was Francis Scawen Blunt - presumably of another line.

[Mark1959]

It would appear that the reason for no 1/1 War RHA WD after Oct 1916 is that it became part of 15th Brigade RHA in Nov 1916 and was part of 29th Divisional Artillery. Unfortunately, the 15th Brigade RHA WD is a mess around when JS Blunt joined on 3/8/17.

So we know:

Jasper was commissioned from the RMA June 1917

JS joined 1/1 WAR RHA on 3/8/17

JS's age and approx service in the field is not far off in the medical record following his wounding

Jasper medal info all refer to RHA

JS was at a RFA No. 1. Cadet School in early July 1918 (1-8 July). This record gives age 20 and 1 year 2 months in service. That would date back to say May 1917. Remarkably close to Jasper's date of entry. The record says 6 month in "the command" - so presumably since his recovery from wounds.

 

I have searched high and low for another RA officer JS Blunt and not found one. My conclusion is JS and Jasper are one and the same. I can make only 2 suggestions

1. PM rflory for any confirmation he may be able to give

2. Get details from his service file. 

 

edit: Have found JS wounding in the WO Casulaty List of 5/12/17 - sadly no NoK address

Edited 24 October , 2018 by Mark1959

[Gunga Din]

2 minutes ago, Mark1959 said:

It would appear that the reason for no 1/1 War RHA WD after Oct 1916 is that it became part of 15th Brigade RHA in Nov 1916 and was part of 29th Divisional Artillery. Unforunately, the 15th Brigade RHA WD is a mess around when JS Blunt joined on 3/8/17.

So we know:

Jasper was commissioned from the RMA June 1917

JS joined 1/1 WAR RHA on 3/8/17

Jasper medal info all refer to RHA

JS was at a RFA No. 1. Cadet School in early July 1918 (1-8 July). This record gives age 20 and 1 year 2 months in service. That would date back to say May 1917. Remarkably close to Jasper's date of birth. The record says 6 month in "the command" - so presumably since his recovery from wounds.

 

I have searched high and low for another RA officer JS Blunt and not found one. My conclusion is JS and Jasper are one and the same. I can make only 2 suggestions

1. PM rflory for any confirmation he may be able to give

2. Get details from his service file. 

 

 

Mark. This is excellent. I had low expectations of ever locating his unit. I would concur with your analysis. Thank you.... I spent a lot of time trying to locate the 1/1st Warwickshire Battery RHA war diary for 1918 to no avail. Thanks for the pointer on the XV Bde RHA diary.... Now trawling the rather messy pages but it looks as if  August 1917 is missing. It jumps from July 1917 to Oct 1917. No mention of him yet. 

 

His service file is with the MoD given he served in WWII.

 

Thank you all. Most useful. 

 

Gunga Din

[Mark1959]

Look at Nov 26/11/17 - it refers back to the 21/11 and that is there as well

FWR have an appointment in Constantinople in 1920 (1st August) - "Special Appointment Class GG."

Edited 24 October , 2018 by Mark1959

[Gunga Din]

29 minutes ago, Mark1959 said:

Look at Nov 26/11/17 - it refers back to the 21/11 and that is there as well

FWR have an appointment in Constantinople in 1920 (1st August) - "Special Appointment Class GG."

 

Got it. Thank you. Nice to have confirmation seeing his name in the diary. Much appreciated. 

 

 

[Noca]

Another late post, there was more to Blunt than meets the eye. As in fact he served with Black Sea Force in the Caucasus, HMG supplied the Russians with artillery in the revolutionary period. Post WW1 he was attached to the British mission in Istanbul,  Jasper Blunt had served extensively in the Middle East in the Royal Artillery, and was active in the Hijaz during the First World War. In the 1920s he served in Constantinople and advised Kemal Ataturk during the formation of the Turkish Republic, from memory in the inter war period he was also political agent in India. He then pops up again in WW2 as British Military Attaché to the King of Greece, where he carried out a spirited plan to take the King of Greece and his family from Greece via Crete as the Germans invaded to safety in Egypt. 

The escape was well recorded by Anthony Beevor in his book Crete 1941, you can read an extract here;

https://www.penguin.com/ajax/books/excerpt/9780143126423

If you are interested in Blunt's military exploits I would recommend you to the book.

Returning to WW1, please see attached a picture of Blunt's Colt 1911 pistol, which is as interesting as the inscription on the silver escutcheon on the grip Lt. JS Blunt RA Constantinople 1920. Originally I had thought it was a private purchase Colt 1911  dating to 1916, one afternoon I had my Colt's out to clean, I noticed that in fact it had no British proof's in period. Colt provided a letter confirming that in fact it was part of an Imperial Russian contract delivered in 1916. The earlier pistols in the contract did not have the Cyrillic marking to the slide, hence I initially missed the connection to Blunt's service in the Caucasus.

Hopefully that helps with some of Blunt's service history during the First War period.

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear All,

Brilliant researching by all concerned.

My late father had the MC for Greece & Crete 1941 (2AIF).

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[Noca]

On 04/03/2021 at 09:50, Adz said:

Thanks for confirming. I'm his grandson so very interested to see this and hear any more about its history. My father will be fascinated to see it as well. Thanks for posting it.

Sorry Adz if I appeared to have been abrupt in my reply, I was just hurrying out to a meeting, I do have more pictures of the Colt, I will have to find them, plus a history of his service in the Crimea, and Turkey. The story of the escape with the King Of Greece and family is straight out of ripping yarns, and I would be interested in some of his later exploits. I am not too sure when he sold the Colt, but it had been commercially reproofed in the UK in the early / mid 1950's. The Colt was in fact a Russian contract piece confirmed by a letter from Colt Archives as I may have mentioned. I did commission a report on your grandfather's service record which I think I still have a copy of. Regards David

Edited 6 March , 2021 by Noca

[JasperW]

Sorry of this is slightly off topic but I have been also been trying to find out what I can about Sir Jasper Scawen Blunt as I found out last year (from my older sister) that I was named after him!

My father, Alan Warwick (born 1900) was a regualar visitor to the Isle of Wright from the 1920's right up until his death in 1972  and was a friend of Sir Jasper. I am assuming that they must have been reasonably good firiends or they would not have named me after him. Although I am mystified as to why neither of my parents ever told me why they named me Jasper. I was born is 1961 and "Jasper" was a very uncommon name at that time, I think I had to wait until I was in my mid 30s before I actually met another "Jasper". It was my much older sister last year who in passing  said I was named after Sir Jasper Scawen Blunt which has started my search to find out something about my namesake.

Thank you for everyone that has contributed to this thread, I shall now go though my father's achive of photos (he was a keen photographer) and see if I can find any of Sir Jasper out of uniform!

Jasper.

 

[Matlock1418]

WFA/Fold3 have an officer's disability claim pension index card

Lieut Jasper Scawen BLUNT, RFA

AFW 1734 rec 19.11.20

No other details.

M