Lives of the First World War

The memorial bears the town's casualty roll of honour, beneath the inscription: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR GOD THEIR KING AND THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WARS OF 1914-1918. There are two Knill's commemorated on the memorial: Leading Seaman Isaac Knill (1878-1917), and Rifleman Isaac Knill 'Jnr' (1895-1916), uncle and nephew. They are among four Knill's remembered on the nearby Ilfracombe War Memorial.

The memorial bears the town's casualty roll of honour, beneath the inscription: TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR THEIR GOD THEIR KING AND THEIR COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WARS OF 1914-1918. There are two Knill's commemorated on the memorial: Leading Seaman Isaac Knill (1878-1917), and Rifleman Isaac Knill 'Jnr' (1895-1916), uncle and nephew. They are among four Knill's remembered on the nearby Ilfracombe War Memorial.

The reverse of the framed photograph of Isaac, inscribed in pencil with the number 25, and the words: "Isaac Knill, Kings Royal Rifles, Denham, London.". The 16th (Service) Battalion, Church Lads' Brigade was formed at Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, in September 1914. The 16th Battalion joined the 100th Brigade, 33rd Division, and arrived in France in November 1915.

Rifleman Isaac Knill, 16th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps.

The Ilfracombe Says 'Thank You' WWI commemorative event took place in Ilfracombe, Devon, England, on Saturday 2 August 2014. Ilfracombe's Town Crier, Roy Goodwin, led the parade, as the town both remembered and thanked the 166 of its men who served and died in the First World War, including Isaac Knill (1878-1917), and Isaac Knill 'Junr' (1895-1916), uncle and nephew. Other events included a WWI exhibition held at Ilfracombe Museum.

On Saturday 2 August 2014, over 30 Town Criers gathered in Runnymede Gardens, Ilfracombe, Devon, England, as part of the Ilfracombe Says 'Thank You' commemorative event. From the steps of the bandstand they read out the names of the 166 men from the town who served and died in the First World War. The names of Isaac Knill (1878-1917), and Isaac Knill 'Junr' (1895-1916), uncle and nephew, were read out by David Frith, Town Crier of St George's, Bermuda (and Honorary Town Crier of Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England), and Trevor Heeks, Town Crier of Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England, who are pictured above.

The memorial wall in Runnymede Gardens, Ilfracombe, Devon, England, part of the Ilfracombe Says 'Thank You' commemorative event, held on Saturday 2 August 2014. On the wall are plaques bearing the names of the 166 men from Ilfracombe who served and died in the First World War. The plaques were carried to the Gardens by the townsfolk, who included relatives of the WWI dead, in a parade which made its way from the pier. The 166 names were called by over 30 town criers, gathered by the bandstand. Among the names were those of Isaac Knill (1878-1917), and Isaac Knill 'Junr' (1895-1916), who were uncle and nephew. On Remembrance Sunday, 8 November 2015, a permanent, mosaic and stone memorial was unveiled.

Cap badge of The King's Royal Rifle Corps, displaying the motto: Celer et Audax (Swift and Bold).

Looking north towards Ilfracombe's inner and outer harbours.

Looking west towards Ilfracombe's inner harbour.

Looking east towards Lantern Hill, with Hillsborough beyond.

Map of the Somme battlefield showing High Wood, and the front line as it was on 14 July 1916, the day before the battle in which Isaac was killed. The battle for High Wood was the first major action of the First World War for the 16th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, and proved unsuccessful. It would be another two months before High Wood was taken from the Germans.

On Remembrance Sunday, 8 November 2015, a permanent memorial was unveiled in Runnymede Gardens, Wilder Road, Ilfracombe. It carries the message: "Ilfracombe Says 'Thank You' 1914-2014", and commemorates the 166 men from the town who served and died in the First World War. The inscription on the plaque reads: "NOVEMBER 2015 Designed by artist Kim Sayer's Magical Mosaics & created with the people of Ilfracombe for the people of Ilfracombe"

On Remembrance Sunday, 8 November 2015, a permanent memorial was unveiled in Runnymede Gardens, Wilder Road, Ilfracombe. It carries the message: "Ilfracombe Says 'Thank You' 1914-2014", and commemorates the 166 men from the town who served and died in the First World War.

Dedicated to those that made the ultimate sacrifice that have no known grave.

Memorial Plaque

We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

Isaac's father, Louis Brimley Knill, of Ilfracombe, who served as a Driver in the Royal Regiment of Artillery (RH & RFA), British Expeditionary Force, in France.

Louis Brimley Knill (1874-1937), and Sarah Jane Knill née Dyer (1874-1944), of Ilfracombe, Devon.

Sarah Jane Knill née Dyer, of Ilfracombe, Devon.

The medal is impressed with the following details: C-1098 PTE.I.KNILL. K.R.RIF.C.

The inscription on the headstone reads: IN CHERISHED MEMORY OF IHS ISAAC KNILL WHO PASSED BEYOND APRIL 7TH 1885. AGED 36 YEARS. KISS THE SON LEST HE BE ANGRY, AND YE PERISH FROM THE WAY. ALSO OF CHARLES HIS SON, WHO DIED AUGUST 15TH 1885. AGED 3 YEARS. "WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST." AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF ISAAC KNILL GRANDSON OF THE ABOVE AND DEARLY LOVED HUSBAND OF EVA KNILL, SON OF LOUIS AND SARAH KNILL, KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE JULY 15TH 1916. AGED 21. "UNTIL THE DAY BREAK." ALSO OF ISAAC SON OF THE ABOVE ISAAC KNILL (LEADING SEAMAN R. N.) KILLED IN THE NORTH SEA JUNE 24TH 1917. AGED 36. ALSO ELIZABETH KNILL DIED APRIL 12TH 1931. AGED 85. AT REST.

The inscription reads: IN MEMORY OF EVA, DEVOTED WIFE AND MUM OF ARCH AND JOAN RUDD, DIED AUGUST 13TH 1947, AGED 53. ONE OF THE BEST. WE SHALL MEET AGAIN.

Isaac was born to Louis Brimley Knill (1874-1937), and Sarah Jane Knill née Dyer (1874-1944), of Ilfracombe, Devon.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.

Sergeant Isaac Knill (1895-1916), seated in front of his brother, Charles Henry Knill (1897-1958). From a photograph inscribed: No 7, 1914, C.L.B. The Brothers.

The medal is impressed with the following details: C-1098 PTE.I.KNILL. K.R.RIF.C.

Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, where Isaac was baptised on 13 March 1896.

Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, where Isaac was baptised on 13 March 1896.

Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, where Isaac was baptised on 13 March 1896.

The image shows Sergeant Isaac Knill (1895-1916) (front row, third left), and his brother, Charles Henry Knill (1897-1958) (back row, third left). The photograph is inscribed: No 7, 1914, C.L.B. The Brothers.

Rifleman Isaac Knill, 16th Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, was the son of Louis Brimley Knill (1874-1937), and Sarah Jane Knill née Dyer (1874-1944). Isaac was killed on 15 July 1916, during an attack on German-held High Wood (Bois des Foureaux), near Bazentin-le-Petit, France, in the Somme offensive, and has no known grave.

Private Isaac Knill 'Jnr' (1895-1916), has no known grave, but in Britain he is remembered on the Ilfracombe War Memorial; the Roll of Honour in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, and on his grandparent's headstone in the churchyard.

Private Isaac Knill 'Jnr' (1895-1916), has no known grave, but in Britain he is remembered on the Ilfracombe War Memorial; the Roll of Honour in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, and on his grandparent's headstone in the churchyard.

Private Isaac Knill 'Jnr' (1895-1916), has no known grave, but in Britain he is remembered on the Ilfracombe War Memorial; the Roll of Honour in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, and on his grandparent's headstone in the churchyard. Ilfracombe War Memorial faces east over Church Street, where Annie Eva was living when she received the news of Isaac's death. The north end of Horne Road is visible in the centre of the picture.

Isaac's hometown of Ilfracombe.