Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Kenneth Aubrey Knowling

31 December 1919 – 16 June 1993

Kenneth Aubrey Knowling was born on 31 December 1919 at Auburn, South Australia, the son of William Hornsburgh Twiggs Knowling and Lily Sophia Knowling (née Pritchard). He grew up in South Australia's Mid North, with family and community ties centred around Auburn, Saddleworth, and the Clare and Gilbert Valleys district.

Before and after military service, Kenneth was associated with rural and suburban South Australia, reflecting a working life typical of men from agricultural regions of the state in the inter-war and post-war years.

Military Service – World War II

Kenneth enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on 6 July 1942 at Gherang, Victoria. At enlistment he held the rank of Trooper, later recorded administratively as Private, a common interchange within armoured units. His service numbers were S7882 and SX23687.

He served with the 2nd/9th Australian Armoured Regiment, including "C" Squadron, and remained with armoured corps units for the duration of his service. His home address during service was recorded as Saddleworth, South Australia, and his next of kin was his father, William Hornsburgh Twiggs Knowling.

Overseas Service

Kenneth undertook overseas active service in the South-West Pacific Area, including deployment to Tarakan, Borneo, as part of the 1945 Borneo Campaign. His service record confirms:

Active service outside Australia: 302 days
Active service within Australia: 1,290 days
Total effective service: 1,670 days
No battle casualties were recorded. His file includes routine medical examinations and minor administrative or pay-related disciplinary entries, with no court-martial proceedings.

Discharge

Kenneth was honourably discharged on 22 August 1946 under AMR 184A (1)(N). He is commemorated on the Marrabel District Honour Roll for World War II service.

Marriages

First Marriage

On 2 February 1946, shortly before his discharge from military service, Kenneth married Leontine Guda at the Albert Street Methodist Church, Brisbane, Queensland. The marriage was announced in The Advertiser on 20 April 1946.

This marriage ended in divorce. A divorce nisi was granted on 9 November 1949, in an uncontested proceeding, with adultery cited as the cause. Records note that Leontine was residing in Amsterdam, Holland, at the time.

Second Marriage

On 16 March 1950, Kenneth married Myrtle Alicia Wollaston at The Methodist Manse, Archer Street, North Adelaide, South Australia. Kenneth was aged 30 and recorded as divorced; Myrtle was aged 25 and unmarried.

Myrtle was born on 28 May 1924 at Port Lincoln, South Australia, the daughter of Tennyson Penn Wollaston and Edith Naomi Gwendoline Wollaston (née Elson).

Later Life

In later life, Kenneth resided at 18 Winara Drive, Ingle Farm, South Australia. His post-war addresses recorded in official correspondence also include Croydon and Medindie, reflecting movements typical of post-war suburban settlement in Adelaide.

Kenneth died on 16 June 1993, aged 73, at Crafers West, South Australia. His place of death was recorded as Mount Barker Road, Crafers West.

Burial

Kenneth Aubrey Knowling was cremated, and his ashes were interred on 8 July 1993 at:

Enfield Memorial Park, Clearview, South Australia

Second Crescent, Site Number 218

His wife Myrtle Alicia Knowling later joined him at the same location following her death on 30 August 2016, aged 92, with interment on 20 December 2016.

Medals and Honours (Evidence-Based)

Official correspondence from the Soldier Career Management Agency and Central Army Records Office, together with widow-initiated applications, confirms Kenneth's medal entitlements as follows:

World War II Campaign and Service Medals

1939–45 Star (entitled; not issued during his lifetime)
Pacific Star
War Medal 1939–45
Australian Service Medal 1939–45

Post-War / Retrospective Award

Australian Service Medal 1945–75 with Clasp "South-West Pacific"
(entitled on the basis of overseas service at Tarakan, Borneo; claimed posthumously by his widow)

Under medal-issue regulations, unclaimed medals may be issued to the widow or eldest surviving eligible next of kin, and applications were lodged accordingly by Myrtle Alicia Knowling in 1997.

Summary

Kenneth Aubrey Knowling was a South Australian serviceman whose World War II service included overseas operations with the 2nd/9th Australian Armoured Regiment in Borneo. His life reflects the experience of many Australian soldiers who returned to civilian life, married, settled in Adelaide's northern suburbs, and whose wartime service was later formally recognised through retrospective medal entitlements.

Sources – Kenneth Aubrey Knowling (1919–1993)

Civil Registration & Vital Records (South Australia)

South Australian Birth Registration

Knowling, Kenneth Aubrey — born 31 December 1919, Auburn, South Australia.
Parents: William Hornsburgh Twiggs Knowling & Lily Sophia Pritchard.
Registration district: Upper Wakefield.
Book/Page: 48A/398.

South Australian Marriage Registration

Knowling, Kenneth Aubrey & Wollaston, Myrtle Alicia — married 16 March 1950,
The Methodist Manse, Archer Street, North Adelaide, South Australia.
Book/Page: 545/1389.

South Australian Death Registration

Knowling, Kenneth Aubrey — died 16 June 1993, aged 73,
Mount Barker Road, Crafers West, South Australia.
Marital status: Married.
Spouse: Myrtle Alicia Wollaston.

Cemetery Records

Enfield Memorial Park Burial Register

Knowling, Kenneth Aubrey — cremated; ashes interred 8 July 1993,
Second Crescent, Site Number 218, Enfield Memorial Park, Clearview, South Australia.
Enfield Memorial Park Burial Register

Knowling, Myrtle Alicia — cremated; ashes interred 20 December 2016,
Second Crescent, Site Number 218.

Military Service Records

National Archives of Australia (NAA)
Knowling, Kenneth Aubrey — World War II service record.
Series: B883
Service No.: SX23687 (also S7882)
Unit: 2nd/9th Australian Armoured Regiment
Overseas service: Tarakan, Borneo
Discharged: 22 August 1946.

Australian Army Honours & Awards / Soldier Career Management Agency

Medal eligibility and entitlement correspondence, including:
Eligibility for 1939–45 Star (unissued during lifetime)
Entitlement to Pacific Star
War Medal 1939–45
Australian Service Medal 1939–45
Australian Service Medal 1945–75 with Clasp "South-West Pacific" (posthumous claim)

Newspaper Notices

The Advertiser (Adelaide) — Marriage Notice

Knowling – Guda — marriage at Albert Street Methodist Church, Brisbane,
published 20 April 1946.
The Advertiser (Adelaide) — Death Notice

Knowling, Myrtle Alicia (née Wollaston) — death 30 August 2016,
published 3 September 2016.
The Advertiser (Adelaide) — Funeral Notice

Knowling, Myrtle Alicia — funeral notice, published 3 September 2016.

Divorce Records & Newspaper Sources

Divorce Index & Newspaper Reports (Adelaide)

Knowling, Kenneth Aubrey vs Leontine Alphonsa Guda —
Divorce nisi granted 9 November 1949, uncontested; cause: adultery.
Noted residence of respondent: Amsterdam, Holland.

Honour Rolls

Marrabel District Honour Roll (World War II)

Knowling, Kenneth Aubrey — commemorated for WWII service.

Private & Research Collections

Ian Shillabeer Collection

Marriage notice transcripts, medal entitlement correspondence references.
Widow's Medal Application Correspondence

Handwritten application and supporting letters from Myrtle Alicia Knowling,
dated 1997, requesting posthumous issue of Australian Service Medal 1945–75.

Biography and research by Trevor Pyatt 13/12/2025