Arthur Knowles was born on 7th February 1890 at Pannal, one of five children born to Thomas and Sarah Knowles. The 1911 Census records him as a 21-year-old working at Boxholme Farm, Little Ribston, while his parents were living at Mill Lane, Pannal.
At the outbreak of war with Germany in August 1914, Arthur was employed as a goods porter by the North Eastern Railway. Between 5th and 7th January 1915, he voluntarily enlisted into the 17th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, a Pals battalion raised by his own employers. The battalion - designated as a Pioneer battalion since January 1915 - embarked for France at Southampton on 20th November, reaching Havre early in the following morning. Ten days later, the battalion had reached the Somme sector.
The battalion was stationed at Bouzincourt, a short distance north-west of Albert, when Arthur was admitted on 25th June 1916 to No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station at Puchevillers suffering from bronchitis. Next day, he was transferred to an ambulance train, destined for hospitalisation in England. He failed to recover, and died at Rugeley Hospital on 15th July.
Although commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Arthur's parents decided on a private memorial in Pannal (St. Robert of Knaresborough) Churchyard. He was buried there on 17th July.