Thursday 28 March 2013

Private Thomas Charles Kneller

Born on 3 September 1895 in London, England - son of Thomas Godfrey and Sarah Kate Kneller (nee Worster), Walsingham Centre, Ontario - brother of Private Albert Edward Kneller, 38th Battalion, CEF - at the time of his enlistment in 1916: present address in Aylmer West, Ontario; trade as farmer; single; no current or previous military service; Baptist; height of 5 feet 2 inches; chest of 35 inches fully expanded; fresh complexion; brown eyes; brown hair.

Joined the 91st Battalion, CEF, in St. Thomas, Ontario, on 29 January 1916 (number 189924) - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, on 20 or 21 August 1916 - killed in action on 18 November 1916 - name inscribed on the Vimy Memorial, France.

(Photo of Pte Kneller - on the left of brothers Albert and Thomas Godefroy - courtesy of Paul Freeman and the Elgin County Archives).

(Updated with a photo of Pte Kneller's inscription on the Vimy Memorial that I took in August 2012).

(sources: Library and Archives Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca), online attestation papers; Canadian War Museum, 19740281-001, Manu 58F 2 3, 207th Canadian Infantry Battalion and 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Nominal Roll; The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Regimental Museum, A400-0007, Master Personnel List for the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force; Commonwealth War Graves Commission, "Debt of Honour" register, www.cwgc.org; e-mail, Kathy Wyatt, 4 February 2013)

3 comments:

Catherine Trewin said...

This was my Great-Grandfather and I have photos that I would like others to be able to see. How do I do that?

Catherine

Catherine said...

Sorry, this was my Grand Uncle, do you have a way to send and post war time photos of him and his brother, my Grandfather, Albert Edward?

Catherine Trewin said...

Thank you for this! one correction though, Albert Edward on the left, father of the brothers Thomas Godfrey Kneller in the centre and the Thomas Charles on the right.By the way, Albert (my grandfather) lied on his attestation paper and was actually born 1898. It is our understanding that my grandfather was first injured on the same day that his brother (Thomas Charles) died on the 18th of Nov.