Information about birth

Date of birth:
25/05/1875
Place of birth:
Chelsea, Surrey, England, United Kingdom

General information

Profession:
Stableman

Army information

Country:
Canada
Force:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Driver
Service number:
300315
Enlistment date:
10/08/1915
Enlistment place:
Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
Units:
 —  Canadian Field Artillery, 5th Bde.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
01/11/1917
Place of death:
No. 5 General Hospital, Rouen, France
Cause of death:
Died of wounds (D.O.W.)
Age:
42

Cemetery

St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen
Plot: III
Row: S
Grave: 4B

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 3

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place
#3 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Harry Knowles was born in Chelsea near London in 1875. In 1912 when Harry was 37, he, his wife and six children emigrated to Canada. The family ended up in Peterborough, Ontario, where Harry worked as a stableman.

Harry enlisted on 10 August 1915. As a trained stableman he joined the 7th Brigade Royal Canadian Field Artillery as a Driver. He landed in France in January 1916. Harry eventually transferred to the 5th Brigade, of the 2nd Canadian Divisional Artillery, in March 1917.

In October 1917 the 5th Brigade moved to Ypres to assist the Canadian Divisions, which would attack the Passchendaele heights. On 27 October 1917 the 5th and 6th Artillery Brigades of the 2nd Canadian Division took over the guns and positions of the British 66th Divisional Artillery near Zonnebeke.

While the 5th Artillery Brigade supported the troops on the Passchendaele Ridge, the positions of the brigade were frequently. On the 31st the brigade prepared itself for the 3rd phase of the Canadian attack and more ammunition was rushed up. The German artillery anticipated by shelling the wagon lines with mustard gas in order to disorganize the movement of supplies. One officer was wounded, three men were killed and 26 men were wounded.

Harry was wounded during a gas attack. The 42-year-old was evacuated to No. 5 General Hospital in Rouen France, where he succumbed to gas poisoning on the following day.

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