KNOTT, Howard Spencer Oliver Gordon
| Service Number: | 3203 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 July 1918, Murray Bridge, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | Railway Unit (AIF) |
| Born: | Paradise, South Australia, 17 March 1892 |
| Home Town: | Murray Bridge, Murray Bridge, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Campbelltown Public School, East Adelaide Public School and Howard's Commercial College, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Locomotive Fireman (S.A.R.) |
| Died: | Died of illness (Pneumonic influenza), Quarantine Station, Woodman Point, Western Australia, 13 December 1918, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rockingham Cemetery, Western Australia Section: Anglican A, Number: 25. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Murray Bridge Hospital Memorial Gates, Tailem Bend Roll of Honor to Loco Employees Murray Bridge |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Jul 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3203, Murray Bridge, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Oct 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 3203, Railway Unit (AIF), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Boonah embarkation_ship_number: A36 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Oct 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3203, Railway Unit (AIF), HMAT Boonah, Adelaide |
Died For His Country
Private HOWARD S. KNOTT, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Knott. Gaza, who contracted pneumonia influenza on board s.s. Boonah whilst returning to Fremantle from South Africa, after the signing of the armistice, died at Woodman's Point, Western Australia, on December 13.
He was born at Paradise on March 17, 1892, and received his education at Campbelltown and East Adelaide public schools. He gained the University primary certificate, and completed hia education at Howard Commercial College, gaining certificates.
He was employed in the South Australian railway at Murray Bridge locomotive shed as a fireman, after seven years' service in various parts of the State. Private Knott volunteered for active service. In July. 1916, and having passed his final test he went into camp on September 9. He embarked as a member of the Railway Unit on October 22.
He had a kindly disposition, which won him many friends.
Source:
1919 'AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS.', Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954), 18 January, p. 37. , viewed 15 Sep 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89135204
Submitted 15 September 2016 by Campbelltown Library Volunteers (Digital Diggers)
The Death of Private Howard Spencer KNOTT
Private Howard Spencer Knott was a South Australian soldier, who was involved in what must be one of the more tragic events of World War 1.
Howard was the youngest son of William and Jane Knott of Gaza in South Australia. He embarked from Adelaide on the 22nd of October 1918, aboard the HMAT Boonah A36. The Boonah was a captured German merchant ship of 5,926 tons, and formerly named Melbourne (1). The Boonah was the last troopship to leave Freemantle Western Australia. She carried 1,200 AIF soldiers and was bound for Durban, South Africa. On arrival in Durban, the soldiers and crew were advised that an armistice had been signed, just three days before. It was decided that the Boonah should immediately return to Australia, with all soldiers, and crew on board. In a fateful decision it was decided to unload some of the cargo they were carrying, and load new supplies, needed for the return journey to Australia. Local African stevedores were used to load the stores, and unload the cargo carried from home. Durban was in the grip of an epidemic of Spanish Flu at this time (2). Some of the soldiers became infected with the flu, and in the very cramped living quarters aboard, it soon spread like wild fire.
When the ship arrived back in Freemantle on the 12th December 1918, 300 cases had been reported on board. The ship anchored in Gage Roads, and the local authorities refused to allow anyone to disembark. After some delay it was agreed to allow the 300 worse cases to be transferred to the Quarantine Station, at Woodman Point, South of Freemantle. Three men died on day one at the station. Twenty nursing and medical staff soon became infected. Meanwhile back on board, no one was allowed to leave the ship, not until the seven day incubation period had passed with no more reported cases. Needless to say there was more death and infection in those cramped conditions.
Private Knott must have been one of the first taken to the Quarantine Station; the date of his death was stated as December 13th 1918. Only one day after arriving back in Freemantle. He is buried in the Rockingham Cemetery, Rockingham Western Australia. Twenty seven soldiers died along with four nurses. Seventeen further cases were reported, on the Boonah between Freemantle and Adelaide. They were taken to Torrens Island Quarantine Station, but there were no further deaths (3).
The following appeared in The Advertiser Newspaper (Adelaide, SA: 1889-1931) on Monday 16 Dec 1918 p6. in the Family Notices section (4):
KNOTT.—On the 13th December, at Woodman's Point Quarantine Station, W.A., of Spanish influenza, No. 3203, Private Howard Spencer Knott, Railway Unit, A.I.F., in his 27th year, dearly be loved youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. William Knott, Second-avenue, Gaza.
Researched and compiled by Jim Nelson, a volunteer with the Campbelltown Library “Digital Diggers” group in South Australia.
References/Research:
1. http://alh-research.tripod.com/ships_lh.htm
2 & 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boonah_crisis
4. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article5614332
Submitted 15 September 2016 by Campbelltown Library Volunteers (Digital Diggers)
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Howard Spencer Oliver Gordon KNOTT was born on 17th March, 1892 at Paradise, South Australia
His parents were William KNOTT & Jane RANDALL
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