Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-11
FIRST WALDO BOY
Arrives Wounded from
France Went Over
the Top Many Times

Belfast, Me, Dec. 10.-The first Waldo
county boy to be wounded in France
las arrived home, walking with two
canes and as happy a. II he had been
to circus. II Stanley Knowlton is typ
ical Of the wounded boys In the great
conflict. they must indeed, as Red
Cross nurses and doctors have report
ed from the first. be . happy and good
natured lot.
Young Knowlton arrived home Sat-
Lrday noon on a train two hours late.
without letting his people know he
was coming and notwithstanding he is
just up from 6-months sojourn in an
English hospital, he bravely attempted
to walk up Main street, although a
fall would have undoubtedly been the
cause Of his losing his wounded leg en-
tirely. The news Of his arrival reached
his father, Clarence NJ. Knowlton Of
Congress street. and 1t didn't take that
gentleman long to harness and drive
to meet his boy.
When the Journal representative
called at the Knowlton residence Sun
day morning, the first reporter to inter-
view the hero. he came into the par
lor smiling. tall and straight, wear
ing his uniform of khaki flannel, for
owing to his bum knee" as he calls
it. he has had to forgo for the time be-
ing, his "kilties" for Knowlton is
member Of the famous Division One Of
the Canadian Scottish, which holds the
record of having seen longer trench
service and taken more territory than
any other division in the allied armies.
There is no other uniform as COM
Portable and that I like as WE'LL" he
said. "as the little old kilt" He laugh
ed Wien asked if the bare legs We're
not cold, and although he admitted that
the barbed wire sometimes was q lit
tie scratchy, he still maintained that
the half hose and short skirt of the
kilties was the one uniform for him.
1T was nearly two years ago that
young Knowlton, a soldier of fortune
since he was 16, enlisted in the Winne-
peg regiment and was sent overseas.
Since that time until he was invalid
ed to England with his second wound
he has seen active trench service. He
has been ip the trenches for 80 days at
stretch. the shortest duration being
4e hours. Although very entertaining
talker, with most fascinating accent,
the last trace Of his Yankee drawl hay
ing been wiped out by the polyglot as
sociates he was about the hardest per-
son to interview imaginable and but
for the other members Of the family
who put in a word or making a sug-
gestion now and then, one would new
er know but the young soldier had
simply been tourist in a foreign coun-
try. He certainly does not try to make
himself out a hero, but the two gilt
bands on his coat Sleeve testify mute
ly that he has twice been wounded in
battle. SO to begin with the represent
ative of the press had that to work up
on. Have you been 'overAthe top many
times" he was asked. Smilingly he an
swered: well, ! suppose I have, more
times than can count"
Mr.. Knowlton was in one attack on
the Somme, when out of $50 men only
IS reported after the attack. He seems
to have led a charmed life, for he
landed in Halifax just a week before
the disaster Of last Thursday and al
though wounded was sent on to Que
bee, thus escaping possible death in
the stricken city.
When asked about gas, he replied
with more animation than usual,
There, now I can give you a whole
manuscript on gas for 1 have made
a study Of that. There are 10 kinds
used now, II shell and two cloud. The
latter can be seen and Is effective only
in wind Of 8 to 10 miles an hour
blowing from the enemy's lines. The
shell gas is fired from field guns In
shells, which burst. A sentry is sta
toned to watch out for gas and when
he sees or smells it he Immediately
puts on his mask or gas helmet and
gives the alarm. Bells or gongs clang
through the trench and a man usually
has about II seconds to get into his
helmet. The helmets worn today are
good for 48 hours, and are absolute pre-
caution"
There are n good many narrow es-
capes." Mr.. Knowlton went on. saw
one fellow who carried in his shirt
pocket over his heart one Of those
trench mirrors made of steel. One day
piece of shell struck that and CLAN
cling off, struck and wounded his arm,