Christopher Stephen KNEEBONE MM

Badge Number: S13432, Sub Branch: Unley
S13432

KNEEBONE, Christopher Stephen

Service Number: 4360
Enlisted: Not yet discovered
Last Rank: Sapper
Last Unit: 7th Field Company Engineers
Born: Woodville, South Australia, Australia, 9 August 1895
Home Town: Adelaide, South Australia
Schooling: St Peter's College, Adelaide, South Australia
Occupation: Mining Student
Died: Circumstances of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia
Cremation
Memorials: Adelaide Pulteney Grammar School WW1 & WW2 Honour Board, Adelaide University of Adelaide WW1 Honour Roll, Hackney St Peter's College Honour Board
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World War 1 Service

25 Mar 1916: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 4360, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Shropshire, Adelaide
11 Nov 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Sapper, 4360, 7th Field Company Engineers
17 Jun 1919: Honoured Military Medal, Mont St Quentin / Peronne, London Gazette 17 June 1919 on page 7696 at position 92

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Biography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College

WWI Soldier Biography – Christopher Kneebone

Christopher Stephen Kneebone was born on August 9, 1895. Before going to war, he lived in Woodville, South Australia. Resources show that he was not married and was single, indicating that he had no children. Before joining the force, Christopher worked as a mining student. Christopher had a dark complexion, brown eyes, and brown hair. He was 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) tall and weighed 177 pounds (80 kg).

During the war Christopher has the job of being a Sapper, a Sapper’s job was to build bridges, dig under collapsed walls, clear mines, and repair the construction. Throughout the war, he was sent to the emergency areas frequently.

Christopher was promoted to Corporal to France on the 11th of May 1916. He then joined the 27th Battalion on the 11th Reinforcement in France on the 11th of May 1916. Christopher was sick to the hospital on the field on the 31st of August 1916. He then got reverted to Lance Corporal.

He then re-joined the Battalion after he recovered in Belgium on the 19th of September 1916. Christopher then left on a boat specifically just for the soldiers to leave for England, he left from France on the 25th of November 1916. He re-joined the hospital yet again from France on the 9th of October 1916. Christopher was sick to the hospital once again from France on the 8th of November 1916. He was marched in to the ambulance from Wareham on the 28th of March of 1917.

Sapper Kneebone was recommended for, and received, a Military Medal. 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.'

Throughout the 31st of August and 1st of September during the construction of the bridges, Christopher by his courage and determination made the most valuable recognition for a bridge. Christopher Kneebone was pushed across the river in infront of the line where he was exposed to the enemies on the opposite bank. He then assisted in the construction of the bridge under the shell fire, he volunteered to take the significant information that was relative to the progression of the bridge; he then succeeded in doing. The bridge built was used extensively for the crew to use during the operation.

This paper was signed by Charles Rosenthal who was the Major General – He was the Commanding 2nd Australian Division.

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