Private 24511 John Knowles
Regiment/Unit: South Wales Borderers - 2nd Bn.
Theatre of War: At sea
Previous Reg/Num: 74931, R.H.A. & R.F.A.
Age at death: 19
Date of death: 13th of August 1915
Born: Haydock, Lancs
Resided: Haydock, St Helens
Burial / Memorial: Helles Memorial - Panel 80 to 84 or 219 and 220.
Family details:
Son of Margaret Knowles, of 132, Station Rd., Haydock, St. Helens.
Census details:
1901 - 5 years old John is living at 92 Park Street, Haydock with parents William (45), Margaret (42) and five siblings: William (15), Jane (12), Elizabeth (10), Albert (2), Thomas (10 Mths). 1911 - Sees 15 years old 'Collier - Haulier (below Ground)' John living at 132 Station Road, Haydock, St Helens with parents William (54), Margaret (52) and three siblings: Joseph Twiss (32), Albert Knowles (12), Thomas Knowles (10). Boarding at the address are James Cain (27) with his wife Elizabeth Cain (20) and their daughter Mabel Cain (2).
Notes:
Other SHROH casualties who died in the same incident: [cas=2679]Robert Aspinall[/cas] [cas=2920]William Goodwin[/cas] [cas=3245]Clement Howard[/cas] [cas=2713]Thomas McGuire[/cas] The initial 'H' on the soldiers photo is incorrect
Other SHROH casualties who died in the same incident: [cas=2679]Robert Aspinall[/cas] [cas=2920]William Goodwin[/cas] [cas=3245]Clement Howard[/cas] [cas=2713]Thomas McGuire[/cas] The initial 'H' on the soldiers photo is incorrect
[pic]imgs/S1PWHYAOTV/Royal_Edward_zpscfba6aca.jpg[/pic][caption]The HMT Royal Edward[/caption]
The British Transport 'Royal Edward' was sunk by an enemy submarine (UB.14) in the Aegean Sea on Saturday 13th August 1915. According to the information at present available, the transport had on board 32 officers and 1350 troops, in addition to the ship's crew of 220 officers and men.
The troops consisted mainly of reinforcements for the 29th Division Royal Army Medical Corps, at Gallipoli.
The loss of life remains uncertain. Some estimates state 866, others 935.
The Soudan managed to pick up 440 men in six hours and two French destroyers and some trawlers rescued a further 221 survivors.
The 'Royal Edward' was a large ship of the Royal Line, her port of registry being Bristol. Before the war she was engaged in the Canadian Service, sailing between Avonmouth and Montreal. Built in 1908 by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Glasgow, her gross tonnage was 11,117, 5669 net. She was 526 feet long, and had a speed of 19 knots.
[pic]imgs/WW1_memorials/24511JohnKnowles.jpg[/pic][caption]The panel on the Helles Memorial bearing the inscription for Private John Knowles
(Photograph courtesy of Phil Wood off GWF )[/caption]
