L/Cpl 17632 Robert Parr Knowles

• Age: 21
• From: Latchford, Cheshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Robert Parr Knowles was born on 04th August 1894 in Latchford, Warrington, the son of William Knowles and his wife Elizabeth (née Parr). His parents married in 1880, the marriage was registered in Altrincham, and they had ten children.  

Robert had older brothers John Henry, George Alfred, Stanley, William, and Percy, and older sisters Sarah Elizabeth and Emily Patience (who died at one year old), and younger siblings Horace and Margaret.

In 1901 the family is living at 1 Whalley Street in Warrington.  His father is aged 43, a spring mattress maker, his mother is 41.  They have seven sons and two daughters; John, 20, is a railway labourer, George, 18, works with his father, Stanley, 16, is a wire drawer apprentice.  Sarah is 14, William 12, Percy 8, Robert 6, Horace 4, and Margaret 1 year old.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 14 Hewitt Street, Warrington.
His father, William, is shown as being aged 53, born in Lymm, Cheshire in 1858 occupation timekeeper, whilst his mother Elizabeth is aged 51, born 1860 also in Lymm. They have been married for thirty years and have had ten children of whom one had sadly died. Those detailed in the Census are; Stanley aged 26, born 1885 is a wire drawer, William Jnr aged 22, born 188 is a fitter in an iron foundry, Percy aged 18, born 1893 is a swift minder for a barbed wire manufacturer, Robert Parr aged 16, born 1895 is a railway clerk, Horace aged 14, born 1897 is an errand boy for a chemist and Margaret aged 11, born 1900 is at school. Their children were all born in Warrington. Also at the address during the Census was their niece Sara Emma Parr aged 14, born 1897 in Runcorn.

The family was Unitarian and Robert was a member of Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel choir and Sunday school.  His father and brother Horace also sang in the choir.  According to a later newspaper report, Robert was a soloist in the Warrington Parish Church choir and was developing into a singer of first-class ability.  

He enlisted on the 03rd September 1914 at St George's Hall, Liverpool joining the 19th Battalion as Private 17632 . He gave his age as 20 years and 30 days and occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet six and three quarter inches tall, weighed 129lbs,34" chest, with a fresh complexion, with dark blue eyes and brown hair. He stated his religion as Unitarian. His next of kin was his father William, of 4 Hewitt Street. 

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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 7^th November 1915.

Robert's service record has survived and shows the following:

06.5.15: Appointed Lance Corporal.

07.11.15: Embarked for France with his battalion.

01.02.16: Sickness to 98th Field Ambulance.

06.02.16: Rejoined unit.

12.02.16: Sickness to 98th Field Ambulance. Synovitis right knee and admitted. 

13.02.16: Admitted 5 Casualty Clearing Station, then 2 Canadian Gen. Hosp at Le Treport. 

09.04.16: Discharged to 3 Convalescent at Le Treport. 

22.04.16: Discharged to 30 Inf. Base Depot at Etaples. 

21.05.16: Proceeded to 19th Btn. 

Robert was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone. 

He was originally posted as Missing.   

The Runcorn Examiner and other papers reported on 26th August 1916:

“Lance-Corporal Robert Parr Knowles of the King’s Liverpool Regiment, son of Mr. W. Knowles, 14, Hewitt Street, has been officially reported as having been wounded on July 30th.  No details have been received.

 It may be stated now, that the first and only information previously received was conveyed to the family on the 5th of August through the late Private G. W. Smith of the South Lancashires, a gallant friend and fellow townsman, who is himself reported to have been killed on the 8th of August, the very day he wrote confirming his previous statement that Lance-Corporal R. P. Knowles had been killed in action on the 30th July.  This would probably be the opinion of those most likely to know, but would not be accepted as evidence of the death if Lance-Corporal R. P. Knowles is missing and in the hands of the enemy.  Hence it is that the official notice records him as being wounded only.  Needless to say the family are anxiously awaiting further information, for the forlorn hope in suspense does not lessen the burden of sorrow.

Lance-Corporal R. P. Knowles is a younger brother of Private Stanley Knowles, 2/4th Batt. South Lancashires, and of Mr. J. H. Knowles of the local Education staff, who has already been rendered incapable of further service to his country.  Before enlisting in September, 1914, he was employed as a clerk on the L. and N.-W. Coaching Staff, Bank Quay Station.  He was educated at the parochial school, Church Street, and People’s College, Arpley Street, and was also a member of the Sunday school and choir of Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel.”

After nearly nine months, Robert was officially declared killed in action. The following is from an article that appeared in the St. Helens, Runcorn, and Widnes papers on 21st April 1917:

“Missing Nine Months; Now Reported Killed”

“Lance-Corporal Robert Parr Knowles, son of Mr. W. Knowles, 14, Hewitt Street, is now reported to have been killed in action in France on July 30, 1916.  In the intervening eight or nine months he has been reported variously as “killed, “wounded”, and “missing”, and the official notice has ended in sad fashion a condition of heart-breaking suspense. […]

It would be impossible to speak too highly of the late Robert Parr Knowles.  Blest with a sunny and genial disposition he endeared himself to all who came in touch with him.  A devoted son of a large family and faithful to the duties and conduct of a happy home life, only those who knew him best will understand the horrid struggle raging within him during the first weeks of the war.  Endowed with a temperament the very opposite to the fighting spirit, and with everything to lose and little to gain but the priceless honour of his soul, the issue was never in doubt.  The first step was taken on the 3rd September, 1914, which finally terminated in the supreme sacrifice being exacted on the 30th July, 1916.

Those of us who have had the privilege of reading the many bright and cheerful letters written by him during his brief soldier’s career will realise to the full that he was worthy of all praise, and gave up his life cheerfully and bravely for the common good of posterity.”

His parents posted a notice on the same day:

“Killed in action in France on the 30th July, 1916, within five days of his 22nd birthday, Lance-Corporal Robert Parr Knowles, 17632 King’s Liverpool Regiment, sixth beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. William Knowles, 14, Hewitt Street, Latchford, Warrington.

Should Heaven turn Hell, for deeds well done,

He would do ever well;

At duty’s call he gave his all,

And nobly fell.”

The Liverpool Daily Post on Tuesday 01 May 1917 reported his death: 

PREVIOUSLY REPORTED WOUNDED AND MISSING, 

NOW OFFICIALLY REPORTED KILLED. 

Liverpool R. - Knowles, 17632, Lce.-Cpl R. P. (Warrington); 

Robert's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His mother was awarded a pension of 6/- a week from May 1917.  His father received Robert’s Army pay and after his death the War Gratuity of £8-10 went to his eldest brother John.

His family placed Birthday remembrance notices in1917:

KNOWLES - In treasured birthday remembrance of Lance-Corporal Robert Knowles, King's Liverpool Regiment, who nobly made the supreme sacrifice, July 30th 1916. His resting place is unknown, Is marked by God.

KNOWLES - In ever-loving remembrance and double anniversary (birthday and death) of our dear son and gallant brother, Robert Knowles, K.L.R., "Pals", born August 4th. 1894; killed Guillemont, 30th July 1916.

He died the noblest death a man could die,

Fighting for God and Right and Victory,

And such a death is Immortality.

Sadly missed by his father, mother, brothers, and sisters, 14 Hewitt Street, Latchford, Warrington.

Robert was also remembered on his birthday in 1918:

“In proud and ever-loving birthday remembrance of our dear son and brother, Robert Parr Knowles, born 4th August 1894, killed in action on the Somme, 30th July, 1916.

And the souls of all good men and true

Will range themselves alongside you.

From Father, Mother, Sisters, and Brothers.”

“In loving remembrance of Lance-Corporal Robert Parr Knowles, K.L.R., who nobly made the supreme sacrifice July 30th [1916].  Treasured thoughts and memories. - Amy, 67, Laira Street, Warrington.”

(Amy Spencer, born 1890, lived with her family at 67 Laira Street.  She never married, was still living at the same address in 1939, and died in 1975.)

His brother Stanley served in the S. Lancs. Regiment and the Royal Engineers, went to France on 16/7/15 and was demobbed in February 1919.  

John served in the 4th Bn. S Lancs. Regiment.  In 1915 he suffered a severe gunshot wound to the left thigh at Ypres, and was discharged in January 1916 with a 60% disability pension. 

Further tragedy struck the family when his youngest brother Horace, who also worked for the L. & N.W. Railway, died of influenza and pneumonia in February 1919.  Horace was 22. 

Five days later his mother succumbed to the same disease at 59.

Their deaths were featured in the Runcorn Examiner on 01st March 1919: 

LOCAL OBITUARY.  

DOUBLE BEREAVEMENT.  

Mother And Son Succumb To Influenza.  

Particularly tragic circumstances surround the recent death of Mr. Horace Knowles, of 14, Hewitt-street, Warrington, for we regret to announce that his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Knowles, aged 60 years, passed away yesterday morning after a short illness due to influenza, and his father is also ill with the complaint. Mr. Knowles, who. was only 22 years of age, died last Sunday after having been in bed influenza and pneumonia for a fortnight, was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Knowles, and, prior to his illness, was employed as shunter by the London and North-Western Railway Co. In his younger days he attended the People's College, and was a member of the Warrington Parish Church Choir. Possessing a fine baritone voice, his heart and soul was in music, and in later, times he was a member of the choir at Cairo-street Unitarian Chapel. At this place of worship he was also assistant secretary of the Sunday schools and a Sunday school teacher. Mr. Knowles' chief recreation was pencil sketching, and many of his pictures are treasured by his friends. He lived very quietly indeed, but by his unassuming manner won for himself a high place in the estimation of all who knew him.  

A brother Robert Parr Knowles was killed whilst serving with the Liverpool " Pals" Battalion in France.  

The funeral took place on Thursday afternoon, after a short service at the Cairo-street Chapel. In an eloquent address, the Rev. Irvine Lister spoke of Mr. Knowles' splendid qualities, saying that in all his occupations he was thorough and conscientious, not seeking his own aggrandisement, but content to do his duty and to live on the best possible terms with his fellows.  

His father had also been ill with influenza and died, aged 61, shortly afterwards in April 1919. 

His death was reported in the Widnes Examiner on Saturday 26 April 1919: 

DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM KNOWLES.  

A Sorely Stricken Family.  

Mr. William Knowles, of 14, Hewitt-street, many Warringtonians will regret to learn, died on Monday at the age of 61. Mr. Knowles was a frequent writer to the correspondence columns of "The Examiner." He was a broadminded and progressive man, well read, and so rich in thought that the Rev. Irvine Lister, of the Cairo-street Unitarian Chapel (where Mr. Knowles was a regular worshipper), says his words were often an inspiration to him. Mr. Knowles was born at Lymm and came to Warrington about 30 years ago. For the last 26 years he had been timekeeper and storekeeper at the works of the Firth Co., Ltd., but had been irregular in his attendance since New Year's Day, when he became ill. In February he suffered a double bereavement, losing his son, Horace, aged 22, on the 23rd of that month, and his wife five days later, both deaths being the result of influenza, which was then prevalent in town. He had previously lost his son, Robert, aged 21, killed in action at Guillemont, France, and had had his son, Mr. J. H. Knowles, who is employed at the Education Office, seriously wounded at Ypres, in 1915. Mr. Knowles was well known in musical circles. At the age of 12 he played the organ at Lymm Baptist Church and in Warrington he was a member of the Cairo-street Chapel Choir and the Apollo Choir. His late son, Horace, was a soloist as a boy in Warrington Parish Church Choir, and was developing into a singer of first-class ability. Mr. Knowles was a prominent Liberal, but at the last election worked for the Labour candidate, as he distrusted the Coalition arrangement made by Mr. Lloyd George. 

THE FUNERAL.  

The funeral took place on Thursday at the Cemetery, being preceded by a service in Cairo-street Chapel, the Rev. Irvine Lister The mourners were :—Mr. J. H. Knowles, Mr. G. A. Knowles, Mr. Stanley Knowles, and , Mr. William Knowles, sons; Mrs. Sarah E. Richards, daughter; Mr. William Knowles and Mr. Percy Knowles, sons; Miss Maggie Knowles, daughter; Miss Knowles, sister; Mrs. J. Knowles, mother; Mr. Edwin Knowles, brother; Mrs. T. Parsonage and Mrs. T. Whitfield, sisters-in-law; Mr. T. Parsonage, brother-in-law; Mr. F. Richards, son-in-law; Mrs. J. H. Knowles, Mrs. G. A. Knowles, Mrs. Stanley Knowles, and Mrs. Percy Knowles, daughters-in-law; Mrs. E. Green, niece; Mr. and Mrs. William' White, Mr. William Bennett. The Firth Co., Ltd., were represented by Mr. Ezra Eden and Mr. R. Glover. Six of Mr. Knowles' works' colleagues acted as bearers. There will be a funeral service in Cairo-street Chapel to-morrow evening. 

In October 1919 Robert's brother, John, provided information on Robert’s living relatives.  His siblings all lived in Warrington:  Sarah, 34, William, 32, and Margaret, 20, lived at 14 Hewitt Street; John, 38, in Samuel Street; George, 36, in Knutsford Road; Stanley, 33, in  Sandhill Terrace; and Percy, 27, in Frederick Street.

In 2018 a Remembrance Day service took place at Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel on November 11th to honour and commemorate all service personnel and civilians who died in the First World War.  After the reading of each name, including Robert’s, a candle was lit in their memory and a poppy placed in a foam oasis which was later displayed in the chapel memorial garden.

Robert is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Unitarian Chapel, Cairo St, Warrington 

Warrington War Memorial

Roll of Honour L&NW Railwaymen 1914-1919 (held in Warrington Library) 

And on the family gravestone in Warrington Cemetery:

“AT DUTY’S CALL HE GAVE HIS ALL AND NOBLY FELL”

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