Knowles

Joe, Leonard, Norman & Tom

These four World War 1 servicemen were the sons of John Thomas Knowles and Rachel Anne Parker. Rachel bore 18 children, 14 of whom survived to adulthood. The family details are as follows:1,3,5

Father: John Thomas Knowles b. 1864 Mount Pleasant, Turton Mother: Rachel Ann Parker b. 1869 Old Holts Farm,

(John & Rachel were married at St. Maxentius, Bradshaw in 1886)

Children: Mary Ann b. 1887 Hob Lane, James b. 1890 Scopehall Lane, Tonge, Bolton Joseph Parker b. 1892 Scopehall Lane, Tonge, Bolton Leonard b. 1894 365 Tonge Head, Bolton Thomas b. 1895 39 Turton Road, Bromley Cross Bessie b. 1896 Bridge Cottages, Entwistle Norman b. 1897 Bridge Cottages, Entwistle William b. 1898 Bridge Cottages, Entwistle Edith May b. 1901 Bridge Cottages, Entwistle Doris b. 1903 Bridge Cottages, Entwistle Elsie b. 1904 Broad Meadows Farm, Entwistle Alfred b. 1906 Broad Meadows Farm, Entwistle Mildred b. 1907 Broad Meadows Farm, Entwistle Clifford b. 1910 Hob Lane, Edgworth

No census return has been found for the family in 1891, but In 1901 they were living at 42 Station Cottages, Entwistle. Father John is listed as a Railway Signalman. In 1911 they are living at 467 Road, Edgworth. John is now listed as a Railway Porter and his son James is a Railway Clerk. The other members of the family of working age are all at the nearby Calico Printworks. Joe is a Colour Mixer; Leonard, a Clerk; Tom, a Labourer; and Norman, a ‘Plaiter Downcroft’.

John Thomas Knowles probably died in 1912, aged 48, and his wife Rachel in 1921, aged 52.

Joe Knowles

(1891-1971)

Joe pictured with his mother Rachel Ann and his brother Tom. (Photo by courtesy of Margaret Ollerton – niece of Tom & Joe)

Unfortunately, no war record has been found for Joe, but a Medal Rolls Index Card for a Joseph Parker Knowles indicates that he was a Private in the Machine Gun Corps (Regimental No. 104233). He was discharged on 15th April 1919 and awarded The British War and Victory Medals.2 His niece, Margaret Ollerton informs that Joe received a wound to his arm which resulted in limited movement. Joe married Annie Forrest at St Saviour, Bamber Bridge, Preston in 1917. They had at least one child, viz. Albert Parker Knowles born in 1918 in Walton-le-Dale, Preston. Joseph Parker Knowles died in 1971 in Ormskirk.3,5 Leonard Knowles

(1894-1937) No photo available

Leonard attested on 29th January 1916 and was added to The Army Reserve.2 On 17th February 1917 he married Ada Briggs at St Anne’s, Turton and according to his war record the couple made their home at 84 High Street, Turton before Leonard was mobilised and posted to The Railway Troops of The Royal Engineers as a Sapper on 20th July that year (Regimental No. 289817). He was transferred to The British Expeditionary Force on 12th December 1917. Leonard returned to England on 26th January 1918 and it seems that he spent time in the Military Hospital, Exeter. On 7th May 1918 he was ‘Discharged - no longer physically fit for War Service.’ On his discharge papers he stated that he sought employment as a ‘Clerk to & Yorkshire Railway Co., Bolton or Bury’. Leonard acknowledged receipt of The British War and Victory Medals on 19th June 1922.2 Leonard married Ada Briggs at St. Anne’s, Turton in 1917, and a son Kenneth was probably born in 1922. Leonard died on 14th March 1937 and is buried at St. Anne’s alongside his wife as shown by the graveyard record:35

Norman Knowles (1897-1916)

(Bolton Journal p6 July 20 1917)36

Norman enlisted on 9th October 1916 and joined the Royal Field Artillery. He was just 19. His stated occupation on enlistment was machine minder. He worked at Know Mill Print works –the site of which is under the Wayoh reservoir, Edgworth (at the Entwistle end). On January 11th 1917 he was posted to France and travelled from Folkstone to Boulogne on January 12th. He joined the 1st Battalion of The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (Regiment No. 35922) on January 16th. On May 25th he was admitted to hospital with a tonsil infection and discharged on June 6th, rejoining his regiment the following day.2

Norman Knowles was killed in action on 6th July 1917. He is buried in Ramscapelle Road military cemetery, Nieuwport, Belgium.15

(Photos courtesy of Margaret Ollerton – a niece of Norman)

On December 15th 1917 a letter was sent to the officer in charge of infantry records at Preston requesting that any articles of personal property belonging to the late Pte Norman Knowles and any medals should be” disposed of” to Mrs R A Knowles, 467 Blackburn Road. On January 14th 1918 his private property was posted - 1 cigarette case, 1 watch and chain, 1wallet, 1 photo, 1 cigarette lighter. The British War medal was sent on August 8th 1921 and the Victory medal on February 2nd 1922. His mother had died on March 21st 1921.2

15 Tom Knowles

(1895-1957) See photo above

Thomas Knowles was born at Bridge Cottage, Entwistle, (now part of the Strawbury Duck) in 1895. Unfortunately, no war record has been found for Tom, but his niece, Margaret Ollerton, informs that Tom was gassed and suffered severe effects from this for the rest of his life. Tom married Marie Abbott on 26th Jan 1924 at St James, Lower , as shown in the copy of the register below.20 Tom died in 1957 aged 61. The death was registered in Turton33 and probate was awarded to his wife, as also shown below.4,32

Researcher: Alan Woodward

Standard References:

1,2,3,4,5,15,32,33,35,36