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 White Ensign is flown by ships of the British Royal Navy, and by shore establishments.

Isaac was in the Fleet Reserve when he was called up in early August 1914, a year after his marriage to Gertrude. Leading Seaman Isaac Knill served first aboard HMS Argonaut, until September 1915, when he joined HMS King Alfred. Finally, Isaac was transferred, in March 1917, to the Ascot/Racecourse class HMS Redcar, on which he was killed, on 24 June 1917.

Isaac was in the Fleet Reserve when he was called up in early August 1914, a year after his marriage to Gertrude. Leading Seaman Isaac Knill served first aboard HMS Argonaut, until September 1915, when he joined HMS King Alfred. Finally, Isaac was transferred, in March 1917, to the Ascot/Racecourse class HMS Redcar, on which he was killed, on 24 June 1917.

Example of an Ascot/Racecourse class paddle minesweeper, the same class as HMS (or HMPMS - His Majesty's Paddle Mine Sweeper) Redcar, on which Isaac was serving when he was killed, on 24 June 1917. Pictured is HMS Plumpton, which was mined off Ostend, on 19 October 1918, and damaged beyond repair.

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.

Looking east towards Lantern Hill, with Hillsborough beyond.

Looking north towards Ilfracombe's inner and outer harbours.

Looking west towards Ilfracombe's inner harbour.

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.

The inscriptions on the gravestone and vase read: IN MEMORY OF A DEAR WIFE & MOTHER SARAH M. BIRD, DIED JUNE 21. 1946, AGED 66. ALSO EDITH GERTRUDE KNILL, DIED NOVEMBER 27. 1965, AGED 82. AT REST. / NANNIE.

Isaac was baptised on 11 December 1878, in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe.

Isaac was born to Isaac Knill (1849-1885), and Elizabeth Knill née Joslin (1846-1931), who were married in 1870, in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, Devon.

Isaac was born to Isaac Knill (1849-1885), and Elizabeth Knill née Joslin (1846-1931), who were married in 1870, in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, Devon.

Isaac, and his brother, Louis, were baptised on 11th December 1878, in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe.

The inscription on the headstone reads: IHS IN CHERISHED MEMORY OF 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.

Isaac, and his brother, Louis, were baptised on 11th December 1878, in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe.

Isaac, and his brother, Louis, were baptised on 11th December 1878, in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe.

Leading Seaman Isaac Knill (1878-1917), is remembered on the Ilfracombe War Memorial; the Roll of Honour in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, and on his parent's headstone in the churchyard. Isaac is also commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon.

Leading Seaman Isaac Knill (1878-1917), is remembered on the Ilfracombe War Memorial; the Roll of Honour in Holy Trinity Parish Church, Ilfracombe, and on his parent's headstone in the churchyard. Isaac is also commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Plymouth, Devon.

Isaac's hometown of Ilfracombe.