St Christopher's remembers our young people in the World Wars

On Remembrance Day, we remember the impact that both WW1 and WW2 had on our young people at St Christopher's.

St Christopher's Fellowship has been providing support for children and young people since 1870 and has experienced many notable events throughout its history, including both World Wars. Using our archives, we've managed to uncover details about how St Christopher's and its young people were affected during wartime.

At the time of the First World War, there were many boys aged 17 and 18 living in St Christopher's homes and many of these young people enlisted in 1914 and were called up for service at home and abroad. St Christopher's was told that the boys were "always first when anything has to be done".

As well as supporting the young people already living in the services, St Christopher's also took in 70 Belgian refugees from 1914 to 1918. Letters later received from the Belgium young people expressed gratitude for the support they received from St Christopher's.

The young people staying in the homes made a big effort to contribute to the war effort, making crutches, knitting socks and contributing pocket money to wounded soldiers. One home, Tyndale House, even grew 205 bunches of grapes to send to London hospitals.

During the Second World War, one particular young man who contributed greatly was George Arthur Knowland, born in 1922. George was one of the first residents at Chiswick House, London, which opened in 1937. He really enjoyed his time at St Christopher's and praised the "wonderful work" we did during his time at Chiswick House.

Boys inside St Christopher's Chiswick House

In the early days of the war, George enlisted with the Royal Norfolk Regiment and was promoted to Lieutenant. George was sent to fight in Burma with the Commandos and was killed in action in 1945 during the Battle of Hill 170. Protecting his fellow soldiers, George's heroic actions ensured his platoon could hold on until reinforcements arrived. His bravery was acknowledged when he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on January 31 1945.

Lieutenant George Arthur Knowland VC

Because of the love that George Arthur Knowland had for St Christopher's, Knowland House - one of our 16+ services near to where George grew up - is named in his honour and was opened in 2012 by his surviving sister Brenda Newman.

In total, at least 8,000 young people who had lived in St Christopher's homes were liable to fight in the First World War, not including those men already enlisted in the armed forces.

On this Remembrance Day, we remember all the young people supported by St Christopher's during the World Wars. As a quote from our archives says:

As we see them go from us we feel confident that they will be a credit to the various services to which they have become attached.