Born:
Died:
Buried:
Address: 17 Moorside Terrace, Eccleshill
Parents:
Spouse:
Siblings:
Occupation:
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Second Engineer
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour:
Children:
Regiment: Merchant Navy
J W Knowles
Second-Engineer J W Knowles, of
17 Moorside Terrace, Eccleshill,
has had a very fortunate escape
from being blown up or drowned
for on Sunday, April 22nd, his ship
was mined and cut in two.
Seen on Saturday, he looked not
worse for his recent adventure and
the power of his handshake
suggested no weakening of his
nerve.
He said that the vessel he was on
was one of our merchant ships
which was being convoyed with
nine others into a certain English
port and his vessel was ninth in
line.
Immediately in front of them was a
Spanish vessel and other neutral
vessels were in the group. They
were well in the fairway when,
without the slightest warning, their
vessel was cut clean in two by
striking a mine.
He was below at the time and had
to wait until the steam had
somewhat cleared to tell where he
was and how to get out.
He was able to seize some of his
belongings and then make his way
on deck.
Most fortunately for all the crew,
when the vessel parted, the vacuum
made by the explosion was the
means of drawing the two parts
together and the air-tight bulkheads
helped to keep the shattered vessel
afloat for some time before she
sank, V-shaped to the bottom.
Swim for his life
The other vessels came crowding
round to render all the assistance
they could and every member of
the crew was saved, though one
man had to swim for his life.
The harbour officials were
extremely kind and it was a stroke
of good fortune that they were all
saved
Engineer Knowles was in Australia
on the outbreak of war but came
over to England at the call of duty
that he might become an air pilot.
He paid the usual fee of £100 to
learn the business and after getting
well on the way, the medical men
discovered that his heart was not
strong enough to stand the strain of
flying and consequently he entered
the merchant service as an
engineer.
After a short rest, he is expected to
go to sea again.
Shipley Times & Express 25 May 1917