Knowles, Ralph David, 1920-1944

Knowles, Ralph David, brother of Geoffrey Churton Knowles (qv); b. 25 June 1920; adm. Sept. 1933 (R); left Dec. 1937; articled to an accountant; RA (TA) 1938-44 (Capt.); MC (posth.) June 1944; killed (Italy) 20 Mar. 1944 while unloading a blazing truck full of high explosives.

Ralph David Knowles was born at Croydon, Surrey on the 25th of June 1920 the son of Ralph Geoffrey Knowles, an insurance official, and Winifred (nee Jackson) Knowles of “Nutscombe”, Detillens Lane, Limpsfield in Surrey, later of St Giles in Buckinghamshire.
He was educated at Westminster School where he was up Rigaud’s from September 1933 to December 1937. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps where he achieved Certificate A in March 1937 and was promoted to Sergeant in September 1937. He was a member of the 4th Rowing VIII in 1935 and of the 3rd Rowing VIII in 1936 where he rowed at No. 5. He was a member of the 2nd Rowing VIII in 1937 where he rpwed at bow. On leaving school he was articled to a firm of accountants. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in the Territorial Army on the 24th of July 1938 and was mobilised for war service on the 24th of August 1939. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of January 1941 and to temporary Captain on the 1st of February 1941.
He was awarded the Military Cross which was announced in the London Gazette of the 29th of June 1944. The citation read: - "From the night 18th/19th January 1944 until midday 22nd January Capt. Knowles was Forward Observing Officer in continual support first of 1 Green Howards and later of 3 Coldstream Guards. At dawn on 19th January he advanced under a barrage with B Coy. 1 Green Howards into Minturno where he established an observation post on the roof of a house. From here he directed accurate concentrations on to enemy infantry and mortar positions. During this time his observation post was under heavy mortar and MG fire and was finally rendered untenable. Captain Knowles therefore advanced further into town to another house from which he continued to direct fire all that night in spite of continual mortar fire and sniping. On 20th January he again advanced with C Coy, 1 Green Howards under a barrage to Trimonsuoli, a further carry of wireless equipment of 4,000 yds. He then established his observation post within 300 yds of the enemy positions and with complete disregard for his own exposed and precarious position he directed the fire of his own and a medium regiment for the rest of the day. On 21st January he succeeded in maintaining his observation post in spite of fierce counter-attacks by enemy infantry and tanks. During the whole of this day he directed accurate fire on the enemy counter-attacks and was largely instrumental in breaking them up. For over 72 hours he was without rest or sleep, and showed complete disregard of personal safety. By his cool and gallant behaviour under heavy fire he rendered invaluable support to the infantry in the most difficult circumstances."
At 3pm on the afternoon of the 4th of March 1944, 92 Field Regiment embarked on ships at Pozznoli bound for Anzio. They landed there at 10am the following day where they began unloading their guns and equipment. On the 20th of March 1944 they were deployed in the Anzio beachhead and spent the morning firing on enemy batteries in the area. At 3.40pm E Troop's position was shelled which set an ammunition lorry on fire. This was successfully emptied but during this time more shells fell near the lorry killing two officers and one other rank and wounding two officers and six other ranks. Ralph Knowles was among the dead.
He was Mentioned in Despatches, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 11th of January 1945. His medals were sold at auction in London on the 19th of September 2003.
He is commemorated on the war memorial at Limpsfield.
He is buried at Beach Head War Cemetery Plot VIII, Row D, Grave 8.

Captain 76578 MC; E Troop, 368 Battery, 92 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery

International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition

Prepared for import into AtoM by Westminster School Archive staff, 2019-2020. Updated by Bethany Duck, Archives Assistant, September 2022.

The Record of Old Westminsters: A biographical list of all those who are known to have been educated at Westminster School from Play 1919 to Election 1989, Volume 4, compiled by F.E. Pagan and H.E. Pagan, Padstow, 1992.

Westminster School Second World War Memorial by John C. Hamblin, 2022.