As the Remembrance Day ceremony came to an end for another year (2026) in Southampton, two octogenarians reminisced as they followed at the rear of the parade – G. William (Bill) Streeter and Art Knechtel.
In WWI, no Southampton family paid the price that the Knechtel family did.
Art Knechtel’s father was severely wounded. His namesake, his uncle Arthur, died at Passchendaele and his father’s cousin, Orland Knechtel, died in France.
Each year, as part of the Commemorative Banners program, Arthur Knechtel’s banner hangs in Southampton.
We Will Remember Them
Art Knechtel went on to become the longest-serving Mayor of Southampton prior to amalgamation and Streeter is recognized as the local historian, particularly in military history.
“My own father served in WWII from September, 1939 until September, 1945,” said Streeter. “This was 2,178 days and the war in Europe lasted 2,106 days. I was 1,204 days old, or a little over three, when I met my Dad for the first time.”
