George Arthur Knowlands
Lieutenant, The Royal Norfolk Regiment. attchd No 1 Commando Unit
- Register No.
- 704 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- The Royal Norfolk Regiment. attchd No 1 Commando Unit (register: No. 1 Commando) all No. 1 Commando VCs →
- Date of action
- 31 January 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Conflict / campaign
- Second World War
- London Gazette
- 12th April 1945 on this day → all of 1945 →
- Born
- 16th August 1922 at Catford in Kent
- Died
- in action on: 31st January 1945 at Kangaw, Burma
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- grave in Taukkyan War Cemetery in Burma
Digest of citation
On 31 January 1945 at Kangaw, Burma, Lieutenant Knowland wazs in command of a forward platoon of a troop which was being heavily attacked; some 300 of the enemy concentrating on his 24 men. When all the crew of one of his Bren-Guns had been wounded, the lieutenant manned it himself, standing up to fire at 10 yards range, until the casualties had been evacuated. For 12 hours he held his ground until he was eventually mortally wounded
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
KNOWLANDS, George Arthur. (Reg. No.704)
Lieutenant The Royal Norfolk Regiment. attchd No 1 Commando Unit.
London Gazetted on 12th April 1945 Born on: 16th August 1922 at Catford in Kent.
Killed in action on: 31st January 1945 at Kangaw, Burma.
Memorial at grave in Taukkyan War Cemetery in Burma.
Digest of Citation reads: On 31 January 1945 at Kangaw, Burma, Lieutenant Knowland wazs in command of a forward platoon of a troop which was being heavily attacked; some 300 of the enemy concentrating on his 24 men. When all the crew of one of his Bren-Guns had been wounded, the lieutenant manned it himself, standing up to fire at 10 yards range, until the casualties had been evacuated. For 12 hours he held his ground until he was eventually mortally wounded.
Additional information: In a more detailed account of Lieutenant Knowlands action, it states, that when reinforcements arrived, he then took over a 2 inch mortar and fired it from the hip, a most unusual thing to do mainly because the recoil would be phenominal. He was protecting supplies being landed on the banks of the Myitka River. It gave the men around him inspiration as he stood in full view of every soldier involved, including the Japanese. He was only 22 years old when he was killed.
Additional information
In a more detailed account of Lieutenant Knowlands action, it states, that when reinforcements arrived, he then took over a 2 inch mortar and fired it from the hip, a most unusual thing to do mainly because the recoil would be phenominal. He was protecting supplies being landed on the banks of the Myitka River. It gave the men around him inspiration as he stood in full view of every soldier involved, including the Japanese. He was only 22 years old when he was killed.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: grave in Taukkyan War Cemetery in Burma
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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