William Graham Knowles #219949 was born Aug 1, 1895 to Hugh and Jennie (Baird) Knowles in Poland, ON. He was the fifth of eight siblings of Hughie, Bertha, Harvey, Jennie, Samuel, and Grace. He and his parents moved to Merrickville, ON where he lived with them. He was a 5’4 single tinsmith, with brown eyes, light hair, and Presbyterian.
William joined the 56th Regiment (Lisgar Rifles) on Mar 25, 1915 and served a couple detentions due to AWL in July and August. He then enlisted on Oct. 12, 1915 in Barriefield, ON and joined the 80th battalion. On Dec. 10, he was promoted to L/Cpl. He was then hospitalized from Feb. 13 –Mar 11, 1916 for tonsillitis and Mar 16-Apr 1 with measles. On Apr. 22, 1916, his brother Hughie visited him in Belleville and enlisted at that time. They sailed out of Halifax on May 16 on the SS Baltic and arrived in England on May 29. He and his brother joined the 74th battalion. On July 17, 1916, they were both assigned to the 102nd battalion and left for France on Aug. 11. On July 27, William wrote his will leaving everything to his father, Hugh. William was hospitalized from Nov. 22-28 with influenza. On Mar 14, 1917, he was once again promoted to Lance Corporal. On April 26, 1917, William Knowles died at Vimy Ridge.
On April 25, 1917, the 11th Brigade consisting of the 102nd and the 54th with the 85th in reserve were tasked with seizing the right side of Hill 145, the strongest German point at Vimy Ridge. The 54th and 102nd quickly took the first German trench but the left side of the hill was maintained by the Germans throughout the battle who forced the 54th back out, but the 102nd maintained their position. Eventually, with support, the Canadians forced the German troops completely out of the hill.
William Knowles, with his brother, were killed in maintaining their position on Hill 145 on April 9, 1917 while with the 102nd battalion at the age of 21. He was buried at Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery in Calais, France, grave reference A.18. The cemetery, originally called CD 1,* contains the graves of soldiers all of whom fell on the 9th April 1917, or on one of the four following days. There are now over 100, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. The cemetery covers an area of 849 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall. The numerous groups of graves made about this time by the Canadian Corps Burial Officer were, as a rule, not named but serially lettered and numbered. His decorations, medals, plaque, scroll, and Memorial Cross went to his parents who lived in Merrickville, ON on June 24, 1920. His pay also went to his father.
He is commemorated on page 270 of the Book of Remembrance, the Merrickville Memorial Project, and the Lanark Legion Honour Roll.
William joined the 56th Regiment (Lisgar Rifles) on Mar 25, 1915 and served a couple detentions due to AWL in July and August. He then enlisted on Oct. 12, 1915 in Barriefield, ON and joined the 80th battalion. On Dec. 10, he was promoted to L/Cpl. He was then hospitalized from Feb. 13 –Mar 11, 1916 for tonsillitis and Mar 16-Apr 1 with measles. On Apr. 22, 1916, his brother Hughie visited him in Belleville and enlisted at that time. They sailed out of Halifax on May 16 on the SS Baltic and arrived in England on May 29. He and his brother joined the 74th battalion. On July 17, 1916, they were both assigned to the 102nd battalion and left for France on Aug. 11. On July 27, William wrote his will leaving everything to his father, Hugh. William was hospitalized from Nov. 22-28 with influenza. On Mar 14, 1917, he was once again promoted to Lance Corporal. On April 26, 1917, William Knowles died at Vimy Ridge.
On April 25, 1917, the 11th Brigade consisting of the 102nd and the 54th with the 85th in reserve were tasked with seizing the right side of Hill 145, the strongest German point at Vimy Ridge. The 54th and 102nd quickly took the first German trench but the left side of the hill was maintained by the Germans throughout the battle who forced the 54th back out, but the 102nd maintained their position. Eventually, with support, the Canadians forced the German troops completely out of the hill.
William Knowles, with his brother, were killed in maintaining their position on Hill 145 on April 9, 1917 while with the 102nd battalion at the age of 21. He was buried at Givenchy Road Canadian Cemetery in Calais, France, grave reference A.18. The cemetery, originally called CD 1,* contains the graves of soldiers all of whom fell on the 9th April 1917, or on one of the four following days. There are now over 100, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. The cemetery covers an area of 849 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall. The numerous groups of graves made about this time by the Canadian Corps Burial Officer were, as a rule, not named but serially lettered and numbered. His decorations, medals, plaque, scroll, and Memorial Cross went to his parents who lived in Merrickville, ON on June 24, 1920. His pay also went to his father.
He is commemorated on page 270 of the Book of Remembrance, the Merrickville Memorial Project, and the Lanark Legion Honour Roll.