CORPORAL 120586 ERIC WILKINSON KNOWLES, N SPECIAL COMPANY, ROYAL ENGINEERS.


CORPORAL 120586 ERIC WILKINSON KNOWLES, N SPECIAL COMPANY, ROYAL ENGINEERS. KILLED IN ACTION 14th JULY 1917 AGED 21

Photo courtesy Nick Hooper Bradford Grammar School


Eric Wilkinson Knowles first attempted to enlist in the army at the beginning of the war but he was rejected for the infantry because of his poor eyesight. Undeterred by this setback his second attempt was successful when was accepted by the Royal Army Medical Corps on 1st March 1915 when he joined the Territorial 2/1st West Yorkshire Field Ambulance. Based at Welbeck Park in Nottinghamshire this was a reserve unit which provided reinforcements and replacements for its sister unit, 1st West Yorkshire Field Ambulance which was already in France.


Clearly, Eric retained a desire to serve in a unit near to the front line and in September 1915 he applied for a transfer to the Royal Engineers. Despite his weak eyesight he was accepted and within just a couple of weeks arrived in France. The Royal Engineers provided a wide range support roles for the front line and often recruited men who had a specific skill like miners or railwaymen. Eric was posted to 'N' Special Company whose role was fire poison gas canisters into the enemy front line. It was the Germans who had first poison gas in the Ypres Salient in the Spring of 1915, when it had caused panic and chaos amongst the defending British troops. Despite criticising its use as barbaric the British soon overcame any moral qualms and became enthusiastic proponents of this new method of warfare. Handling the gas canisters required knowledge and skill and often men who had some experience as chemists would be employed in this role, which may explain why eric found it easy to transfer from the RAMC.

Normally based well behind the front line, the Special Companies would move closer to the front when preparing for an attack. However, to propel the gas canisters into the enemy positions, mortars and special projectors were placed immediately behind the British trenches. The successful use of gas needed the right weather conditions, heavy rain could wash it into the ground and wind from the wrong direction could blow it back into the British trenches. The Special Companies would often remain in the front line zone waiting for  the right weather conditions.

On the 10th July 1917 'N' Special Company moved into the front line zone near to Hooge Chateau, South East of Ypres and immediately behind the 25th Division. The gas was to be fired in the early hours of the morning into the German positions prior to an infantry attack by men from the division. However, the wind direction was unfavourable and the attack was postponed on several nights. During this time 'N' Company remained at the front and were thus in danger from enemy fire and on the 12th July a German shell exploded in their positions killing one man and wounding Eric. Shrapnel hit him on the left side leaving what were described as multiple perforations to his shoulder and arms. Taken to the 3rd Canadian Field ambulance his wounds were severe and Eric succumbed 2 days later.

Eric was born in Baildon in 1896 the only son of George Mason Knowles and his wife Laura. The family moved to the Great Horton area of Bradford and then into Ilkley where they live don Wellington Road and then at a house called Ash Lea on Wheatley Lane, Ben Rhydding. Initially educated at Ilkley Grammar School he later moved to Bradford Grammar. George Knowles was in the wool trade with the family firm of L & M Knowle and Son which dealt in both wool and noil from premises at 28 Dale Street in the centre of Bradford and where Eric worked after leaving school.

Today Corporal Eric Knowles lies in the British Military Cemetery at Lijssenthoek and remembered on the war memorials at both Ilkley and Bradford Grammar Schools as well on our war memorial in Ilkley.





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