The son of William and Lily he married Mary Pascoe in 1927. He was a founding member and President of the Meat Traders' Association and Stithians Agricultural Association. He was a member of Boscawen Lodge of Freemasons.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perranwell Patrol | Patrol Leader | 03 Jun 1940 | 03 Dec 1944 |
Butcher
Kneebone was the Sergeant of Perranwell Patrol, Cornwall. Willie Kneebone was a butcher and the brother-in-law of Horatio Pascoe, the Sergeant of Constantine Patrol. He was called up for service in the regular forces in November 1942. He was gone for three days before a call was made and a Commanding Officer was told he was exempt and should be returned home. He was given a special train pass so he could return to Perranwell.
His son, Hugh, remembered he had a “Tommy” Gun and a revolver that he would keep at home and regularly spend time stripping and cleaning.
The War Office installed a single line phone in is home. The Officer in charge of the local Home Guard Battalion was always suspicious of what the Patrol were doing and under whose command. Willie would always refuse to comment and this lead to a lot of bad feeling between the two men. Post war it is thought that Willie explained all as the men became good friends.
He wore his lapel badge for many years after the war.
TNA ref WO199/3391
Hancock data held at B.R.A
1939 Register
Hugh Kneeebone Son of Sergeant Willie Kneebone.