Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frank Berners Knyvett was born in Queensland in 1880. He was the son of Edward Ferrers Knyvett and Sarah Jane Knyvett (nee Swann). He had ten siblings, including three half siblings. For his father was a widower who had remarried. Edward was an English Farmer who had emigrated and remarried in Brisbane. Frank was a Farmer's son. Hence he could ride and shoot.

Frank did not want to be a Farmer. He aspired to be either a stock agent or real estate agent. Either way he would make his living by a commission as opposed to his sweat. However when the 2nd Anglo-Boer War began after the Boers besieged British garrisons, all that changed. Frank volunteered and made the cut for the 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry. For he had previous militia service.

Frank would have seen himself not as a parcochial Queenslander but as a loyal member of the British Empire. This was a time when England was called "home". Hence HM Queen Victoria was his Empress.

1st QMI CO noted Frank's clerical experience. He kept him close to 1st QMI HQ on active service as his postal clerk. Frank's 1st QMI comrades ribbed him for that non combat role as per his Oz-Boer Database notation.

Frank was incapacitated with enteric fever at Belmont in early 1901. He recovered to continue his service and was repatriated when his unit was time expired. Frank was awarded the QSA medal and discharged. He spent a few days in Brisbane before volunteering to serve in the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen. This time around he wanted a combat role.

SGT Frank Berners Knyvett 5th QIB distinguished himself underfire and was promoted CSM. He was M.I.D. by Lord Kitchenor and Gazetted D.C.M. for his  gallantry during the Battle of Overwacht. He was repatriated once again and discharged with a KSA medal. Frank again spent a few days in Brisbane  before accepting a commission in the 7th Battlion, Australian Commonwealth Horse. LT Frank Berners Knyvett B Sqn 7 Bn ACH did not see any further action. He arrived back in South Africa with his unit after the 2nd Anglo-Boer War Peace accords were signed. Hence 7 Bn ACH was sent back to Brisbane and disbanded. 

Following his discharge Frank migrated to New Zealand where he worked as a Estate Agent. Frank became an Agency Manager. However he wanted to return to what was called the "Profession of Arms".    

In 1905 Frank was commissioned as a Lieutenant in N.Z. Garrison Artillery Volunteers. He was promoted Captain after 18 months service. In 1908 he passed his N.Z. Defence Force Exam for the rank of Major. He was not promoted dispite a recommendation for him to fill a vacany. For Frank had insufficient service time post his 7 Bn ACH commission to receive his Majority. 

In 1909, he took it upon himself to organize a "Big Gun" shoot between Army and Naval Artillery. For both services claimed to be the best shots. Hence Frank wanted the issue to be resolved. He would have seen this as a team building exercise for his Artillerymen.

He went up the chain of command to get permission but went public without a green light. This was picked up by the press. Frank faced a disciplinary court which recommended his commission be terminated.

Frank protested to the Defence Minister which resulted in a second court of enquiry. The first verdict was affirmed. The N.Z. Governor terminated Frank's commission on 31 Dec 1909. He was in effect cashiered. Frank returned to Queensland. He is listed on the Australian Electoral Roll as a Commission Agent living in Brisbane in 1912. 

He went back to South Africa via Western Australia prior to 1914. He wanted to see what it was like in the Union of South Africa under his former adversary and now Prime Minister, Louis Botha. Frank was looking for Agency work but that changed in 1914. Louis Botha now supported the British Empire. He sent troops into German South West Africa. Frank offered his services to the South African Expeditionary Force because it had Field Artillery. He was interviewed by a  British Artillery Officer. The fact that NZ Army Artillery were better shots than NZ Naval Artillery was taken as read. Hence the fact that he was cashiered for his attempt to prove that point in N.Z. was not seen as negative.

Frank had passed his Artillery Major's promotional exam in 1908. Hence in 1915 he got a war service commission as a Major in the Royal Field Artillery. That was published in the London Gazette on 25 May 1915.

Frank was now back in his preferred Artillery Officer vocation. He served in German South West Africa and Mosopotamia before going to France. Major Frank Berners Kynvett RFA was Gazetted D.S.O. by King George V on 4th June 1917. Hence getting cashiered from N.Z. Artillery worked to his advantage. That was affirmed by HM The King. The Empire needed Frank.

However Frank was wounded in France according to the press but he survived. His brother, LT Reginal Hugh Knyvett was badly wounded in France in 1916.

Hugh as he was known, was discharged medically unfit. However Hugh who aspired to be an RFC Pilot, was making his way to England via America when he died in 1918. Frank had wanted to reconnect with Hugh as they were estranged due to Frank living in N.Z. Hence following the Armistice, Frank went back via America. It is likely that he met Hugh's widow.

Frank who had pursued the "Profession of Arms" decided to devote himself to repairing the victims of war. He re-trained in America as a Phyiotherapist. He specialized in Chiropractrics to help fix back injuries.   

Dr Frank Berners Knyvett DCM DSO retired to Florida where he died in 1956. His life story includes war and peace. He distinguished himself on the battle field but devoted the second half of his life to helping those injured in both war and peace. Lest We Forget.           

Reference links provided.