Early Life :

Education & Career :

Royal College of Music. Listed as a Baritone Vocalist on the 1911 Census.

Joseph Knowles Ireland was the son of a railway clerk in Leeds. At the age of 16 he was already in work as an insurance clerk, but had a dramatic change of career. In part this was because of family connections. His Uncle Charles Knowles, a member of the ISM Masonic Lodge from 1902, was a bass-baritone of some renown, known as ‘The Elijah of the North’. In 1911 Joseph Knowles Ireland is listed as living in St John’s Wood, his occupation now being that of ‘baritone’ following studies in the vocal department of the RCM, from which he graduated in 1912.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.

Detail :

Landed in France 1st September 1915.

University of London, OTC Roll of War Service 1914-1919 "Captain Joseph Knowles IRELAND was educated at Royal College of Music and attended University of London where he joined the OTC. He was reported missing, believed Killed on 7 Oct 16. His battalion as part of the 124th Brigade was tasked with capturing Bayonet Trench and its associated defences north of Flers. His brother officer and Brother Mason, 2/Lieutenant John STRINGER of the same battalion was also killed that day."

Also appears in the London O.T.C. Roll of the Fallen JOSEPH KNOWLES IRELAND Captain Royal Fusiliers - Royal College of Music - reported missing believed killed on 7th October 1916.

Probate: IRELAND Joseph Knowles of 34 Stevenage-road Fulham Middlesex captain 26th R.F. died on or since 7 October 1916 in France Probate London 9 August to Ruby Gwendolyn Ireland widow. Effects £207 5s. 3d.

For his service he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War medal and the Victory Medal.

Masonic :

Recorded as a Musician from London upon initiation. War service recorded which is ended by "Died."

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley