Kniffen, Clarence H.

Clarence H. Kniffen

Early Life

Clarence H. Kniffen was born on November 17, 1887, in Rye, New York, the son of Charles H. Kniffen and Mary Jane Sniffen. He grew up on School Street as part of a long-established local family during a period when Rye was transitioning from a rural village into a more connected suburban community.

As a young man, Kniffen left Rye around 1912 and moved to Connecticut, where he worked in Bridgeport for the Adams Express Company as a clerk. His employment reflected the growing importance of transportation and logistics networks in the early twentieth century, linking regional commerce with national distribution systems.

World War I Service

At the outbreak of World War I, Kniffen enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard, joining the 2nd Infantry, which was later federalized as the 102nd Infantry Regiment of the 26th Division (Yankee Division). He deployed overseas in October 1917 as part of one of the first National Guard divisions sent to France.

Serving with Company M, Kniffen took part in continuous and intense combat operations. His regiment fought in the Chemin des Dames, a heavily fortified ridge where repeated Allied assaults encountered strong German defenses; the Toul Sector, where American forces gained early experience in trench warfare; and the Verdun Sector, one of the most grueling and symbolically important battlefields of the war.

He later participated in the St. Mihiel Offensive, the first major American-led attack, which eliminated a long-standing German salient and demonstrated the growing effectiveness of American forces. This was followed by the Meuse–Argonne Offensive, the largest American campaign of the war, which broke through German defensive positions and hastened the end of the conflict.

Kniffen endured multiple extended tours in the front-line trenches—at least seven by his own account—reflecting sustained exposure to combat conditions. On July 22, 1918, during operations near Château-Thierry, he was severely wounded and required treatment in several hospitals. After recovering, he returned to duty before later being reassigned due to the lasting effects of his injuries.

He was cited for bravery in action and awarded the Purple Heart in recognition of wounds received in combat. Of the approximately 250 men from Company M who went overseas, only about 30 survived, underscoring the intensity of the fighting he experienced. He was honorably discharged on April 29, 1919, after approximately eighteen months of overseas service.

Life After Service

After returning home, Kniffen resumed civilian life and returned to work, eventually continuing his career with the American Express Agency. He later settled in Stratford, Connecticut, though he maintained strong ties to Rye, where he was well known and warmly received upon his return from the war.

Clarence H. Kniffen died on June 17, 1941, at a Veterans Hospital in New York City after a long illness. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Helen Kniffen; two daughters, Doris Kniffen and Lois Kniffen; two sisters, Mrs. A. G. Henne of Rye and Mrs. Clarence Sloat of Brooklyn; and two brothers, Harold Kniffen and Charles Kniffen, both of Rye.

He was buried following funeral services attended by family and community members, concluding a life marked by local roots, distinguished military service, and lasting ties to the Rye community.