Private
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) | 70459 | 10th & 17th Battalions |
Photo courtesy Brenda Newman
Biography
Jack was born at Crich in about 1896; his parents were Thomas and Elizabeth Kneebone of East View, Crich. Before joining the Army he worked at Manor Colliery, South Wingfield.
Photo courtesy Peter Byard
Jack was one of the first to enlist, doing so in August 1914. Initially he was a military policeman in Ireland, before being drafted to France. He died 20th September 1917 aged twenty-one, and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial near Ypres. The Derbyshire Times reported him as missing (presumed dead) but they appear to have his regiment incorrectly stated as the Royal Field Artillery rather than the Sherwood Foresters.
Kneebone John Thomas – Killed during The Battle of Menin Road Ridge 20–25 September 1917 wilst serving in the 39th Division. He first served in 10th battalion.
"The Division attacked with one Brigade at 5.40am – 117 Brigade assaulted with 17th Sherwood Foresters, supported by 16th Sherwood Foresters and 16th Rifle Brigade, the 17th King’s Royal Rifle Corps were in reserve. On the right the Foresters pushed on to the western edge of Bulgar Wood, taking a number of blockhouses on the way to the Red Line. At 7.00am the advance continued. The KRRC cleared dug-outs on the way to taking the blue line while the Foresters came under fire from the north-east. By 7.45 am the objective was reached". (
)[
]Medal Roll Index Cards
He was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
Newpaper Reports
Derbyshire Courier, 4 September 1917
CRICH CASUALTIES
Considerable anxiety is felt by Mr and Mrs T. Kneebone, of the Common, Crich, with regard to the whereabouts of their eldest son, Private John T. Kneebone, Sherwoods. Nothing has been heard from him since 18 September, when he sent a field card to say he was well. As a result of an enquiry the Lichfield Records Office informs of Mr Kneebone that his son was posted as missing are on 20 September. Private Kneebone, who is 21 years of age, is a finely built young fellow. He was one of the first batch of recruits to enlist from Crich, having joined up in September 1914. For a while he was a military policeman in Ireland, and fifteen months ago he was drafted to France.
Derbyshire Times , 10 November 1917
CRICH SOLDIER MISSING
Mr and Mrs Thomas Kneebone, of Crich Common, have received news from the military authorities at Lichfield that their eldest son, Pte. John Thos. Kneebone who is a gunner in the R.F.A has been missing for about eight weeks. He enlisted in August 1914 and previous to joining the Army was employed at the Manor Colliery, South Wingfield. He is single and 23 years of age.
Derbyshire Courier, 10 November 1917
Derbyshire Courier 13 November 1917
CRICH CASUALTIES
Considerable anxiety is felt by Mr and Mrs T. Kneebone, of the Common, Crich, with regard to the whereabouts of their eldest son, Private John T. Kneebone, Sherwoods. Nothing has been heard from him since 18th September, when he sent a field card to say he was well. As a result of an enquiry the Lichfield Record Office informs Mr Kneebone that his son was posted as missing on 20 September. Private Kneebone, who is 21 years of age, is a finely built young fellow. He was one of the first batch of recruits to enlist from Crich, having joined up in September 1914. For a while he was a military policeman in Ireland, and fifteen months ago he was drafted to France.
Postcards of the first Crich volunteers, October 1914
Name | KNEEBONE, JOHN THOMAS |
Initials | J T |
Nationality | United Kingdom |
Rank | Private |
Regiment/Service | Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) |
Unit | 17th Bn |
Ages | 21 |
Date of Death | 20/09/17 |
Service No | 70459 |
Additional Information | Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Kneebone, of 10, East View, The Common, Crich, Matlock, Derbyshire. |
Casualty type | Commonwealth War Dead |
Grave/Memorial Reference | Panel 99 to 102 and 162 to 162A. |
Cemetery | TYNE COT MEMORIAL |
Soldiers' Effects Book
John Thomas Kneebone; Notts & Derby Regt; Private 70459; killed on since 20.9.17 death presumed; War Gratuity £14; paid out to:
2.12.18 mother Elizabeth £16 10s 2d
4.1.19 mother Elizabeth £14 0s 0d
1901: Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas | Kneebone | Head | 38 | Gritstone quarryman | Crich |
Elizabeth | Kneebone | wife | 35 | Leeds | |
Jane | Kneebone | daughter | 16 | Cotton cardroom hand | Crich |
Emma | Kneebone | daughter | 7 | Crich | |
John | Kneebone | son | 5 | Crich | |
Mary | Kneebone | daughter | 2 | Crich | |
Amy | Kneebone | daughter | 3mo | Crich |
RG13 piece 3231 folio 19 page 30
1911: Crich
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas | Kneebone | Head | 49 | Gritstone quarryman | Crich |
Elizabeth | Kneebone | wife | 44 | Leeds | |
Emma | Kneebone | daughter | 17 | Hosiery minder | Crich |
John T | Kneebone | son | 14 | Colliery horse driver underground | Crich |
Mary E | Kneebone | daughter | 12 | School | Crich |
Amy | Kneebone | daughter | 10 | School | Crich |
Walter | Kneebone | son | 4 | Crich | |
William | Kneebone | son | 1 | Crich |
RG14PN20984 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED13 SN68