Bernard Robert KNIBBS, son of Henry KNIBBS and Harriet BENNETT , was born 10 August 1892 in Banstead, Surrey, England. He married Norah Mary Hatten MILLS 30 July 1925 in Lee, Kent, England. He died 12 June 1984 in Banstead, Surrey, England. Norah Mary Hatten MILLS was born September 1897 in Lee, Kent, England. She died 03 September 1945 in Surrey Mid. East District, Surrey, England.


Children of Bernard Robert KNIBBS and Norah Mary Hatten MILLS are:
1. Robert Seymour KNIBBS, b. 17 October 1926
2. Gillian Harriet Mary KNIBBS, b. Private See Michael J REYNOLDS & Gillian Harriet Mary KNIBBS
3. Susan Elizabeth KNIBBS, b. 10 April 1933 See Terence Christopher STANCLIFFE & Susan Elizabeth KNIBBS

Marriage Notes for Bernard Robert KNIBBS\Norah Mary Hatten MILLS:

They were married at St. Peter's Church, Lee, S.E. which I suspect is a suburb of London?

From The Times, Saturday, Aug 01, 1925:

MARRIAGES.
KNIBBS : MILLS - On the 30th July, at St. Peter's
Church, Lee, S.E., BERNARD ROBERT, son of the late Mr.
HENRY KNIBBS, of Banstead, and Mrs. Knibbs, to NORAH
MARY HATTEN, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. ARTHUR
MILLS, of 14, Cambridge-road, Lee, S.E.


Notes for Bernard Robert KNIBBS:

Also known as: Bunny

Bernard attended the Merchant Taylors' School from April 1904 to 1909. I believe it was at Rickmansworth.

He appears in their Register printed in 1923 as follows:
April 1904.
Knibbs, Bernard Robert, b. 10 Aug. 1902, s. of Henry (Schoolmaster) and Harriet, Banstead. Left 1909: Clerk, Guardian Ass. Co. since 1910. European War: Yeo.; 2 :Lt. R.G.A.; (M.) wounded. - B.R. Knibbs, esq., Piror's Lea, Banstead, Surrey.


Note: R.G.A. stands for Royal Garrison Artillery
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From the Sporting Life - 06 June 1914:
Today's Athletic Meetings in London and Provinces.
N. BRITISH & MERC. INSURANCE.
The sports at the Crystal Palace this afternoon will commence at 3.0 sharp. There are over twenty events, the principal of which is the 1 mile scratch race, open to Insurance Companies, which has secured the following splendid entry :—H C Cooper (Prudential), A Croaford (Ocean Accident), Cutler (Edinbulli Life), J O'C Dodd (Pearl), F A E Evans Commercial Union), Fresher (Law Fire), S A Gridley ( Pearl). O R Haynes (Liverpool Victoria), G E Head. C .J. Howson (Ocean Accident, Liverpool), F H Hulford (Pearl), B R Knibbs (Guardian). B H Lymbery (Liverpool and London and Globe), M B Mason (Liverpool Victoria). E Hoes (Prudential) H V Northam (Commercial Union), G. A .T. Ridley (Atlas Liverpool). H A W Smith (Pearl). C A (Liverpool Victoria). F N Wood (Commercial Union). This event is timed for 4.30.

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From the Sporting Life - 20 June 1914:
Today's Athletic Meetings in London and Provinces..
PEARL ASSURANCE A.C.
The annual sports and garden party will he held to-day on the club ground, Rutland Park, Perry Hill, Catford. Owing to the length of the programme the meeting will commence at 3.0 and there will be no waiting. The mile scratch, open to clerical staff of insurance offices, has an entry of 24. including many well-known milers, the full list being as below. The times of the principal events are as follows :-100yds championship 3.0. 100yds 3.5. 880yds novices' scratch 3.40, 440yds 3.50, veterans' 100yds 4.5, mile invitation 4.15, mile walk 4.25, mile championship 4.56, departmental relay 5.15. mile handicap 5.30. Entries for invitation:- F H Hu!ford. S A Gridley, J O'C Dodd (Pearl), H C Cooper. E O Glass, E Moss, F J Roberts (Prudential), E A Croxford. A J Cornish (Ocean), A E Evans. H V Northam (Commercial Union), R G Hulford, W Reading (National Amalgamated), A H Jones (London and Manchester), B R Knibbe (Guardian), V Kent (Hearts of Oak). B H Lymbery, W H Steele (Liverpool, London, and (Hobe). M B Mason (Liverpool Victoria), I. E Smith, H C Waghorn (London Guarantee). F E Worsfold (City Life), and A W Weller (National Benefit).

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We know from a book held in the All Saints Church at Banstead, that George served in the Great War and was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery, serving in Egypt, Gallipoli and France. It also tells us that he was wounded.

Before becoming a 2nd Lieutenent in the RGA, he served in the Surrey Yeomanry and the General Service Lancers as a Lance Corporal. His medal record shows that he took part in "Theatre of War 3" from 3 April 1915 which I believe was Egypt and quite possibly Mesopotamia (Iraq), Gallipoli and Palestine.
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Bernard, probably taken in his early 50's (click to enlarge).
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Bernard with the Banstead cricket team, c.1935. Bernard is at the back, left hand side, but sadly, we don't know the names of the others.
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Bernard appears in the Who's Who in Sport - 1935:
KNIBBS, B. R. b: Banstead 1892. s: Cricket, Rugby Football. c: Hon Sec Banstead Cricket Club. Streatham Rugby F.C. d: Played football for Surrey. a: Soiuth Lea, Banstead, Surrey.

b: = born
s: = Specialised in
c: = Club(s)
d: = ?
a: = Address
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We see Bernard, living at Hotel Metropole, Bournemouth, Hampshire, at the time of the 1939 Register.
Bernard R Knibbs 10 Aug 1892 Insurance Clerk Married

I'm not sure why Bernard was living away from his wife and son, Robert, at the time.
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From the The Tatler - 12 December 1951:
Famous Rugby Cubs
Streatham
As long ago as 1871 there was a Streatham Rugby Club, but no documentary evidence exists as to its fate. The present organization, one of the five oldest clubs in London, was founded in 1893 by the fusion of Thurlow Park, Lewin Rovers and Streatham Park. Three of its founder members are octo genarians; C. W. Greenhill, A. L. Goodall, the first captain, and H. T. Howard, leading players in those early days, still retain member ship of the club they helped to start on its distinguished career.
Turning over the pages of its records, one notes that of the early exponents of the Rugby game in Surrey, only Sutton, founded in 1881, and Streatham, survive the passing years.
Streatham has produced two England internationals in W. V. Butcher and P. S. Hancock, selected for all three matches in 1904, while members who have played for Surrey include C. G. Dickson, H. B. Sawday, H. R. Frisby, F. A. Stone, B. R. Knibbs, C. J. Abbott, J. A. Rowe, C. W. R. Francis, J. H. S. Howard, now the popular Club President and Treasurer of Surrey County, C. R. Williams, E. H. Lloyd and J. G.Jonas, the present captain of the club.
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From The Tatler, 12 August 1953:
This edition of The Tatler gave a history of the Banstead cricket club which it said was founded in 1892. It went on to say:
This year's president is Stanley Baker, well known in Fleet Street circles, and B. R. Knibbs celebrates twenty-five years as honorary secretary this season.





Bernard with the Banstead cricket team, c.1953. Bernard is at the back, centre.
Others in the photograph are:
Standing, Left-right: J. K. Horne, V. P. Lowe, D. W. Peterken, B.R. Knibbs (hon. secretary), J. P. Fletcher, F. Lovis, A.E. Quin.
Seated, Left to right: F. H. Booth, G. Bush, L. Cole (captain), J. N. Walker,
On ground: J. Ashwood, R. F. Head.

Sources for Bernard Robert KNIBBS:

  1. 1901 British Census,
  2. Personal Contact with Helen Hitchins, gave location 
  3. Alan Jackson GRO, gave DOB 
  4. Personal Contact with Terry Stancliffe, gave me the dates from Bernard's headstone 
  5. Ancestry.com, 1984 to 2004 birth, marriage and death indexes 
  6. "Village School Banstead" by Irene O'Shea 1981,
  7. 1911 British Census,
  8. Military Record,
  9. 1939 Register,
  10. Ancestry.co.uk - Surrey, England, Baptisms, 1813-1912,

Notes for Norah Mary Hatten MILLS:

  • Birth: September 1897 in Lee, Kent, England.
  • Death: 03 September 1945 in Surrey Mid. East District, Surrey, England.

Daughter of Mr & Mrs Arthur Mills of 14 Cambridge Road, Lee, S.E. who are buried in Banstead churchyard, adjacent to the Knibbs family graves.

From the 1901 we see that Norah was living at 24 Cambridge Road, Lewisham, London, Middlesex:
Arthur Mills Head Mar 43 Civil Service Clerk Kent Woolwich
Elizabeth D Mills Wife Mar 38 Suffolk Walsham & Willows
Kathleen G H Mills Daur 8 Kent Lee
Seymour H H Mills Son 7 Kent Lee
Norah M H Mills Daur 3 Kent Lee
Doreen E H Mills 1 Kent Lee
Edith M Blake Servant UnM 23 Nurse Domestic Suffolk Walsham & Willows
Bessie Elsey Servant UnM 19 General Servant Domestic Suffolk Mattisfield
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In 1911, we see Norah living with her parents at 14 Cambridge Road, Lee, Kent.
Arthur Mills Head 53 Mar (21 Years) Civil Servant Examiner Bankruptcy Dept. Kent Woolwich
Emma Mills Sister 51 UnM Sick Nurse Hampshire Portsmouth
Kathleen Mills Daur 18 UnM School Kent Lee
Seymour Mills Son UnM 17 School Kent Lee
Norah Mills Daur 13 School Kent Lee
Doreen Mills Daur 11 School Kent Lee
Elizabeth Rozier Servant 19 UnM General Servant (Domestic) Suffolk Walsham-le-Willows
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Norah married Bernard Knibbs in 1925.
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We see Norah, living at Sunnyholme Court Road, Banstead, Surrey, at the time of the 1939 Register.
Elizabeth D Mills 13 Jul 1862 Unpaid Domestic Duties Widowed
Elizabeth (Betsy C) Archibald 22 Oct 1886 Domestic Servant Single
Emma H Mills 16 Aug 1859 Sick Nurse Retired Single
Norah M H Knibbs 03 Jul 1897 Unpaid Domestic Duties Married
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Knibbs Norah Mary Hatten of South Lea Court-road Banstead Surrey (wife of Bernard Robert Knibbs) died 3 September 1945 Administration Llandudno 19 January to the said Bernard Robert Knibbs company Clerk. Effects £275 9s. 4d.


Notes for Robert Seymour KNIBBS:

Also known as: Robin
  • Birth: 17 October 1926 in Banstead, Surrey, England.
  • Death: 10 June 1932 in Banstead, Surrey, England .
  • Burial: 13 June 1932  Banstead, Surrey, England 

Sources for Robert Seymour KNIBBS:

  1. Personal Contact with Terry Stancliffe, gave me the actual dates from his headstone 
  2. Ancestry.com, England & Wales, Death Index: 1837-1983 gave Epsom District 
  3. FreeBMD,
  4. Personal Contact with Helen Hitchins,
  5. Ancestry.co.uk - Surrey, England, Burials, 1813-1987,