John 'Jack' Knotts was born on the 27th September 1896 at 1 Coopers Cottages, Dipton, the third son of Joseph Knotts, born 1871, died 13th February 1917, and his wife Mary Ann (nee Middleton), born Delaval on the 23rd August 1871. She was the eldest daughter of Charles Middleton, born 20th June 1847, and Anna Maria (nee Hewitt), born 21st April 1851, died 15th January 1922, [from a cerebral haemorrhage aged 50]. John's two brothers died in childhood, Henry who died in an accident, drowned, and the other brother Joseph died as a baby of gastro enteritis when he was only three years old.

Charles Middleton remarried Louisa (nee Lewin) on the 16th August 1884. Louisa was mother to George William Middleton. Charles Middleton is Joseph Knotts’ father-in-law, i.e. Mary Ann’s dad and is the George William Middleton on the Dipton war memorial. .

Joseph Knotts married Mary Ann Middleton, [born 23rd August 1871], on the 23rd August 1890.

The family in 1901, were residing at 1 Coopers Cottages, Dipton, but by 1911 had moved to Cross Street, East Dipton, John was a colliery labourer, above ground at the Delight Colliery in Dipton. John had enlisted into the 20th {Wearside], Battalion Durham Light Infantry as a Private and was given the service number 28334. During his service he was appointed to the rank of Lance-Corporal.

John was eventually commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on the 31st October 1917.

John’s father, a coal hewer, died suddenly on the 13th February 1917, following a cerebral haemorrhage, lasting one month.

John's Battalion was sent to Italy, and was involved in the Battle for the Asiago Plateau on the 15th June 1918. He survived this as a Second Lieutenant according to a note found with his belongings after he died.

The transcript of the note reads: From Adjutant To 2nd Lt Knotts.
Enclosed souvenir is sent with the compliments of General Montuori commanding the Sixth Italian Army in commemoration of the Battle of Asiago Plateau 15th June 1918.

No idea what the souvenir was.

John came home after the war and married Hannah Mary Ann (Daisy) Herdman, [born 4th October 1892], on the 26th October 1918. John went back to working in the colliery after the war, again working on the surface as a colliery banksman. He was significantly affected by the war, although he never talked about it, and "tended to speak to his family as though he was still in the army, ordering us about", (according to my father, his only son). After the war, John went into business with a pal and they bought a Model T Ford with the idea of beginning a taxi business. The car was one of the first to be seen in Dipton village. It is uncertain whether the business failed or the pals fell out but no more was seen of the car.

In 1939, John and Hannah were residing at ‘The Beeches’, Pike Lane, Dipton, with their son Joseph, born on the 18th October 1922.

The following is about the death of John's mother.

Stanley and Chester-le-Street News, Thursday 19/01/1922

Death of Mrs Mary Ann Knotts
Mrs Mary Ann Knotts of George Street, the wife of the late Mr Joseph Knotts, passed away with tragic suddenness on Sunday. Fifty years of age, deceased succumbed to an illness of a brief duration. Practically the whole of her life was lived in the village and she was known to a large number of friends. Unassuming in nature, kind and gentle, she endeared herself to all who knew her. Deceased was a regular worshipper at the P.M. Church and a service was held on Wednesday prior to the interment at St John’s. General sympathy will be felt for her only son, John, in his sad bereavement.

John was always a capable organiser and perhaps never got the opportunity to progress as he had done in the army, leaving him frustrated with his life back home. My father commented that he had not had the bond with his father like the one he had had with his mother. John used to chain-smoke Woodbine cigarettes all his life. He used to play grass bowls in the Dipton Bowling Club and was an active member of Dipton Central Methodist Church, now demolished. He also loved his garden and grew vegetables as well as flowers for Hannah 'Daisy'.

Hannah had lifelong problems with depression and ultimately committed suicide on the 14th May 1963, after overdosing on her medication.

John never got over this and went into a depression himself, finding little joy in anything but smoking. He went into Lynwood House in Lanchester, also now demolished, towards the late 1960s and passed away from a heart attack on 28th April 1974. He was cremated at Durham Crematorium, as was his wife Hannah.

Research: Jennifer Stephenson

John Knotts is not remembered on a North East War Memorial, his name should be in the History of the 20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry which is on our website, but its not, there are names missing from this Book. See D47.148a and D147.148b