John KNOWLES

KNOWLES, John

Service Number: NX26019
Enlisted: 14 June 1940
Last Rank: Gunner
Last Unit: 2nd/15th Field Regiment
Born: Bolton, England, 27 May 1900
Home Town: Paddington, Woollahra, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Illness - Dysentry & Malaria, Borneo, 20 February 1945, aged 44 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Panel 4
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Dunoon District War Memorial, Dunoon St. Matthew's Anglican Church HR
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Gunner, NX26019
14 Jun 1940: Enlisted Gunner, NX26019, 2nd/15th Field Regiment
14 Jun 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, NX26019, 2nd/15th Field Regiment

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Thomas Anthony and Sarah Knowles; husband of Irene Elizabeth Knowles, of Dunoon, New South Wales

Gunner John Knowles, 2/15th Field Regiment, 8th Division, who died in a Japanese prison camp last March, from dysentry and malaria. Gunner Knowles enlisted in Lismore over five years ago, and was in action when Singapore fell. He was born in Lancashire, England, 50 years ago, and came to Australia with his parents' when 17 years of age. He enlisted while living at Bangalow and spent three years' service in the 1914-18 war, fighting in France.
He married at Bangalow, in 1920, Miss Irene Rose, who sur vives him. He is also survived by his son Russell, and daughter Verla, of Dunoon; also his mother, Mrs. T. A. Knowles, of Conway Street, Lismore; one sister, Mrs. T. Bailey, of Webster Street, South Lismore, and three brothers, Messrs. Anthony (Millaa Millaa, Queensland), William (Alstonville), and Ben (Nimbin). Gunner Knowles went to Dunoon in 1920 where he took up farming, and lived there until the time of his enlistment.

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