Major
William KNELL
Royal Flying Corps
Died: 22nd July 1917 - Age: 53

Commemorated:

1. Memorial:Heston (St. Leonard) ChurchyardG. 21.
2. Book:The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918Pg.127
3. Memorial:The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour57D GQS
    

Awards & Titles:

 

Early Life :

With thanks to Ian Bullock, William's great-grand nephew, who has been able to provide further context. Ian is also related to 2nd Lieutenant Francis Franklin, as his grandson, and is also listed within this database. The portrait image is sourced from the Lincolnshire Chronicle, 28th July, 1917 edition.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

Unit / Ship / Est.: Royal Fusiliers 

Action : Natural Causes 

Natural causes is attributed those deaths due to causes that were not directly associated with the war. Included in this are wartime deaths resulting from, for example, theSpanish Influenza pandemic and its associated pneumonia problems and other attributions such as age and exhaustion. It also groups those who through Post Traumatic Stress committed suicide as a result of their experiences.

Detail :

KNELL, William, Major & Quartermaster. Commissioned in the Royal Fusiliers. He is listed on the Roll of Honour in the Royal Flying Corps.

The newspaper account appears in the Lincolnshire Chronicle on the 28th July, 1917 of the "Death of Major Knell - of the Lincoln Depot Barracks. - To the mingled surprise and regret of a great number of Lincoln people, the sudden death occurred on Sunday of Major and Quarter Master W. Knell of the Royal Fusiliers, a much respected officer stationed at the Lincoln Depot Barracks. On Saturday evening deceased, who was 56 years of age, was cycling along Burton-road from the direction of the Barrack, when he had a paralytic stroke, resulting from cerebral hemorrhage, and fell from his bicycle. Deceased was picked up and taken to the 4th Northern General Hospital, but notwithstanding the utmost care and medical attention he died, at 7.30 on Sunday morning. Major Knell had a long service record. Joining the Royal Fusiliers (the old 7th Foot) 1882, he was for 10 years stationed in different parts of India. On his return to England Major Knell was quartered for 25 years at the Regimental Headquarters at Hounslow, and it says much for his perseverance and general capability that he gained promotion from the ranks at a time of peace.

In January, 1914, he retired on the Reserve of Officers, but being called up on the outbreak of war, was appointed to the Lincoln Depot, retaining his former position of Quarter-Master, and having the rank of Major. At Lincoln there is one son of the late Major's in the Army Pay Corps; another having just come of age, has enlisted in the Artist's Rifles; while anotherson is in the Ordnance Corps, and at present in Egypt.

The funeral took place on Thursday with full military honours at Hounslow..."

The article goes on to give more detail of the memorial service, an article which is repeated in the Lincolnshire Echo 26th July, 1917.

Masonic :

TypeLodge Name and No.Province/District :
Mother : Military Jubilee No. 2195 E.C.East Kent
Joined : Alma No. 3534 E.C. Middlesex
Joined : Roll Call No. 2523 E.C. Middlesex

Initiated
Passed
Raised
24th April 1890
22nd May 1890
26th June 1890
 

Initiated into Military Jubilee Lodge No. 2195 in 1890.

Petitioning and Founder member of Roll Call Lodge No. 2523, Hounslow at its consecration 8th June, 1894.

Petitioning and Founder member, as its Worshipful Master, of Alma Lodge No. 3534. The Lodge records him with war service in 1915 with a catch up of dues in 1916, continuing to pay half his dues in 1917, before the statement "Died 21.7.17" closed out his entry. Past Master

Source :

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

Additional Source:

Last Updated: 2021-08-14 17:42:15