Joseph Knowles lived in Nottingham with his wife and five children and worked at Whitehouse's Boiler Works. On 3rd June 1916 he was awarded the Military Medal 'for conspicous gallantry and devotion to duty when in action against the enemy carried a wounded comrade to safety whilst under enemy fire'.The wounded man was Pte Hiorns also from Ilkeston who later died of his injuries.  Joseph Knowles was himself killed in action by German shelling of the front line trenches near Guillemont. Joseph was reputed to have been a 'bit of a boxer'. Two brothers were also serving in the forces and one brother Ernest Knowles was killed in action whilst acting as a machine gunner with the Sherwood Foresters.

 

john weston