Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 22443 John Reginald Knowles

Age: 25
From: Birkenhead, Cheshire
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
Panel Ref: P21-23

John Reginald Knowles was born in 1893 in Birkenhead the son of John Knowles and his wife Catherine Wallace (nee McDonald), who married in Birkenhead in 1888. His mother was born on 18th January 1867 in Edinburgh.

On the 1901 Census the family are living at 3 Cross Street, Birkenhead. His father, John, is aged 38 and a fruit hawker born inBirkenhead, his mother, Catherine W. is aged 42 and born in Scotland. They have four children in the household all born in Birkenhead; Gertrude 11 a scholar, John R. 7 a scholar, Edith E. 6 a scholar, and Dorothy M. 1. They also have a servant Matilda Brodrick 42.

On the 1911 Census the family have moved to 3 Chesnut Grove, Higher Tranmere. His father, John, is aged 48 and still a fruit hawker, his mother Catherine Wallace is aged 51. They advise that they ahve been married for 26 years and have had 6 children 4 of whom have survived. Their four surviving children are in the household and listed as; Gertrude 21 a shorthand writer and typist, John Reginald 17 a clerk, Edith Evelyn 16 a shorthand writer, and Dorothy May 11 at school.

John's father died in the September quarter of 1914, aged 52.

John attested on 05th November 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 20th Battalion as Private 22443. He gave his age as 21 years 93 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5' 4" in height, weighed 119lbs with a 35" chest, sallow complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and named his mother, Catherine as his next of kin.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

His service records show:

25.11.16 - to Lewis Gun School in the field

04.12.16 - returned to Btn

13.3.17 - attached to Divn Dump

07.2.18 - posted to "C" Coy 19th KLR following the disbandment of the 20th Battalion in France.

He was killed in action on the 28^th March, 1918 aged 25 during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary records the events of the day as follows:

During the morning the enemy attacked the troops on our right flank and succeeded in capturing ARVILLERS, menacing our right flank. Three companies of the Battalion had to be immediately echeloned backwards as protection, the Battalion engaging the enemy, who were attempting to come out of ARVILLERS. This position was held during heavy fighting until 2pm when the Battalion was informed that French troops had come into position in the rear. In order for the Division to be relieved the Battalion had to hold their ground whilst the 2^nd Bedfordshire Regt and 2^nd Bn. R.S.F.’s passed through on their way to the rear. At 4pm the Battalion commenced to move off in small parties, passing through the French, and marching through MEZIERES, MOREUIL to MORISEL where hot dinner was provided. The Battalion then formed up and moved up by companies to ROUVREL and were billeted for the night. By this time the total casualties had reached 23 Officers and 457 O.R.

John Reginald's body was not recovered or was subsequently lsot as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

He was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post on 16th May 1918:

King's Liverpool Regt - Knowles 22443 J.R.(Birkenhead);

Soldiers Effects to mother Catherine and sisters Gertrude, Edith and Dorothy, Pension to mother Catherine Wallace

John is remembered on the Birkenhead War Memorial, Hamilton Square, Birkenhead.

His mother died in the December quarter of 1931, aged 72.

We currently have no further information on John Reginald Knowles, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(110 Years this day)
Thursday 17th August 1916.
Pte 15784 Charles Leslie Bibby
24 years old

(110 Years this day)
Thursday 17th August 1916.
Pte 16517 Samuel Arthur Dicks
24 years old

(109 Years this day)
Friday 17th August 1917.
Pte 49203 Arthur Hargreaves
20 years old

(109 Years this day)
Friday 17th August 1917.
Pte 33155 Francis Douglas Wilkinson
21 years old

(109 Years this day)
Friday 17th August 1917.
Lance Corporal James Bernes
28 years old

(109 Years this day)
Friday 17th August 1917.
Lieutenant Alexander Vyvyan Johnston
32 years old

(108 Years this day)
Saturday 17th August 1918.
Pte Michael O'Rorke (MM)
23 years old