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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Cavan Knowlson

In memory of:

Lieutenant William Cavan Knowlson

December 11, 1944
In the field

Military Service

Age:

21

Force:

Army

Unit:

The Royal Canadian Corps of Signals

Additional Information

Born:

February 4, 1923
Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment:

January 4, 1942
Toronto, Ontario

Son of Wilfrid M. and Ruth Goldie Knowlson, of Toronto, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 354 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY
Belgium

Grave Reference:

I. C. 19.

Location:

Antwerp lies 57 Km north of Brussels on the E19 and 59 km north east of Gent on the E17 motorway. The cemetery itself is located in Wilrijk, a suburb of Antwerp. From the Bistplein in front of the railway station in Wilrijk follow the Kleinsteenweg for 300 M until you arrive at the ring road. Turn right and follow the ring road for 100 M to the first set of traffic lights and turn left. Go under the flyover and continue straight on over the dual carrageway into Jules Moretus Lei. Follow this street for 1 kilometre and the entrance to the Municipal Cemetery is on your left. After entering the cemetery follow the Commission signs to the three Commission plots at the far end of the cemetery. Alternatively ask for their location at the office within the cemetery.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram December 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram December 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping
  • Circumstances of Death– Casualty card.

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    Circumstances of Death
    Circumstances of Death – Casualty card.
  • Memorial Book– University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Published by the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 36 reads: “Lt William Caven [sic] Merritt KNOWLSON Royal Canadian Signals. Former student, Applied Science and Engineering – Electrical, 1941-42. Killed in action in Holland, 11 December 1944. Buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerp, Belgium.”

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    Memorial Book
    Memorial Book – University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Published by the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 36 reads: “Lt William Caven [sic] Merritt KNOWLSON Royal Canadian Signals. Former student, Applied Science and Engineering – Electrical, 1941-42. Killed in action in Holland, 11 December 1944. Buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerp, Belgium.”
  • Soldiers' Tower Memorial– The Soldiers’ Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower’s base. In total, almost 1200 names are inscribed. A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers’ Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations.

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    Soldiers' Tower Memorial
    Soldiers' Tower Memorial – The Soldiers’ Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower’s base. In total, almost 1200 names are inscribed. A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers’ Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations.
  • Memorial Arch– The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers’ Tower in 1949. The name of “Lt W. C. M. KNOWLSON R.C.Sigs” is among the names inscribed. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.

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    Memorial Arch
    Memorial Arch – The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers’ Tower in 1949. The name of “Lt W. C. M. KNOWLSON R.C.Sigs” is among the names inscribed. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
  • Memorial Room– Soldiers’ Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations.

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    Memorial Room
    Memorial Room – Soldiers’ Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
  • Grave Marker– Grave marker … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Grave marker … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cemetery Entrance– Entrance … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Cemetery Entrance
    Cemetery Entrance – Entrance … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cross of Sacrifice– Cross of Sacrifice located in Plots 4 and 4A … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Cross of Sacrifice
    Cross of Sacrifice – Cross of Sacrifice located in Plots 4 and 4A … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cemetery– View of Plot 3 … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Cemetery
    Cemetery – View of Plot 3 … Schoonselhof Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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