John Knowles was born in July 1886 and enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters in June 1904 aged 18.

Edward Matthews was born in August 1892 and enlisted into into the Sherwood Foresters in March 1911 aged 19.

John Knowles and Edward Matthews arrived in France with the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby) Regiment on the 8th September 1914. The 2/Sherwood Foresters were part of the 18th Brigade in the 6th Division.

Edward Matthews was captured on the 20th October and John Knowles on the 28th October. In total over 480 men of the 2nd Battalion were captured.

After returning to England both John and Edward received a Princess Marys Christmas Tin.

John married Florrie and they had three children. he is believed to have died in 1946. It is not know if Edward was married with a family, but he is believed to have died in 1965.