James Arthur KNIBBS\Olive STOKES

James Arthur KNIBBS, son of Henry KNIBBS and Rosannah DIMMICK , was born 19 March 1885 in Braunston, Northamptonshire, England. He married Olive STOKES 21 May 1915 in Braunston, Northamptonshire, England. He died bet. October and December, 1963 in Ealing District, London, Middlesex, England. Olive STOKES was born 23 November 1892 in Dudley District, Staffordshire, England. She died bet. July and September, 1949 in Ealing District, London, Middlesex, England.

1. Olive KNIBBS, b. Private	See Ernest G MORLEY & Olive KNIBBS OR John A GIRLING & Olive KNIBBS
2. Rose KNIBBS, b. Private	See William J JAMES & Rose KNIBBS
3. Blanch KNIBBS, b. Private	See Thomas LAWRENCE & Blanch KNIBBS
4. Violet KNIBBS, b. 23 December 1927	See Norman Cyril BARTLETT & Violet KNIBBS
5. Arthur R KNIBBS, b. 10 October 1929	See Arthur R KNIBBS & June Muriel HUGGINS
6. Florence F KNIBBS, b. 24 March 1917	See John JONES & Florence F KNIBBS
7. Male KNIBBS, b. bet. January and March, 1918
8. Female KNIBBS, b. bet. January and March, 1918
9. James KNIBBS, b. bet. April and June, 1919

James can be seen at the 1901 census living with his brother Thomas, his mother, and thomas' wife and son, all at Water Eaton, Buckinghamshire, England. I believe James is using his second name Arthur:

Hanah D Knibbs 50 Staffordshire Stoke Buckingham Water Eaton
Thomas Knibbs 27 Warwickshire Ratford Buckingham Water Eaton Canal Boatman
Rosina Knibbs 24 Middlesex Harefield Buckingham Water Eaton
Albert Knibbs 3 Middlesex Harefield Buckingham Water Eaton
Arthur Knibbs 16 Northampton Bramstone Buckingham Water Eaton Assistant On Canal

Notes for James KNIBBS:

Birth: bet. April and June, 1919 in Aston District, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England.
Death: 20 September 1940 in Thames Estuary, Kent, England .
Military: 20 September 1940 MV Innisdhu - World War II, Thames Estuary, England, Casualty of War
Burial: aft. 20 September 1940 St Mary Hoo, Kent, England
Occupation: Mariner, Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy 1940

In Memory of
Engineer Officer JAMES KNIBBS, 21
M.V. Innisdhu (Glasgow), Merchant Navy
who died
on 20 September 1940
Son of James Arthur and Olive Knibbs, of Islewoth, Middlesex. Alternative Commemoration - buried in St. Mary Hoo Churchyard.
Remembered with honour
GILLINGHAM (WOODLANDS) CEMETERY
__________

Naval-History.Net records that on 20 September, 1940, the British drifter INNISDHU (96grt) was sunk by German bombing one hundred yards west of Westward mine marking buoy, itself S 16 deg. W from Hole Haven Signal Tower. The crew of four was lost.

I believe Hole Haven Signal Tower may have been located on Canvey Island, within the Thames Estuary.
__________

MV Innisdhu
built by P McGregor & Sons Kirkintilloch, Yard No 60
Engines by J & C G Bolinder, Stockholm
Last Name: INNISDHU (1935)
Previous Names: BEN OLLIVER (1923)
Propulsion: M2cy 2str hot-bulb 80bhp
Launched: Wednesday, 25/09/1912
Built: 1912
Ship Type: Coaster
Tonnage: 95grt 56nrt
Length: 65.6 feet
Breadth: 18.4 feet
Owner History:
Coasting Motor Shipping Ltd Glasgow
1919 John Summers & Sons Ltd, Chester
1922 Mackie & Co, Glasgow
1923 National Benzole Co Ltd, London
1935 Lloyds Albert Yard & Motor Packet Services, Southampton
1937 New Medway SP Co.
Status: Sunk - 20/09/1940

Designed by James Pollock, London (Project No 462) in 1911
Exploded and sank at Oldhaven on the Thames

I tried to find more of what the ship was used for but all I could find was that the New Medway Steam Packet Co. who owned it from 1937 onwards, was running services along the Kent Coast, up into East Anglia and across the English Channel to France. What services there were, I don't know, but get the feeling it may have included passengers as well as cargo. With just 4 crew member, I would guess that the Innisdhu was a small cargo vessel. At just 65 feet so similar in size to the canal boats that he was brought up with.