b. 26/06/1886 Haywards Heath, Sussex. d. 03/09/1918 Hendecourt-les-Cagnicourt, France.
Arthur George Knight (1886-1918) was born on 26th June 1886 at Franklyn Road, Haywards Heath, Sussex. His father, Edward “Ted” Henry Knight was a carpenter with Bagley & Sons of Redhill, Surrey. He married Ellen Stoner on 3rd August 1884 in Haywards Heath. Arthur had three siblings – Lily, Ellen known as Nellie and Rose.
Arthur was educated at St John’s School, Meadvale, Surrey and Redhill Technical & Trade School. He was a choirboy at St John the Evangelist Church, Redhill and was a member of the Reigate Company of the Church Lads’ Brigade. He worked as an odd boy at Budder’s Rag and Bone Yard in Reigate and then became an apprentice carpenter and joiner with Bagaley & Sons Builders in Redhill. He emigrated to Canada in June 1910, where he worked as a carpenter at Regina, Saskatchewan.
He is believed to have served for a year in the Territorial Force in England before he went to Canada. He enlisted with 46th Battalion at Regina on 19th December 1914. He carried out his basic training with the 1st Reinforcement Draft.
Arthur G Knight VC
The 46th Battalion sailed on July 5th, 1915 from Montreal to Southampton on the S.S. Edele. On arrival Shorncliffe Camp, Kent on July 18th, he was assigned to 32nd Reserve Battalion. He forfeited 7 days pay for going AWOL from Shorncliffe on August 19th, 1915. He was then assigned to the 10th Battalion on August 23rd. He was sent first to No #3 Field Ambulance then to No #1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples for treatment for chronic nephritis, then on January 18th, 1916 sent on to Monk’s Hospital, Shorncliffe for treatment for mylgia. He returned to the 10th Battalion on May 4th, 1916. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the King of Belgium in the Field on July 12th, 1916. He was appointed Lance Corporal on June 16th, 1917. Appointed Acting Corporal with pay on August 22nd, 1917, he was then promoted full Corporal on September 25th, 1917. He then broke his ankle tripping over barbed wire while delivering food rations, and was sent to 1st Canadian Field Ambulance. He was promoted to Acting Sergeant on March 3rd, 1918.
After taking part in an unsuccessful attack on German positions near Cagnicourt in France on 2nd September 1918, Acting Sergeant Knight led a bombing section forward under heavy fire and engaged the enemy with hand grenades at close quarters. Seeing that the way was still blocked, he dashed forward alone, bayoneting several of the enemy, and forcing the remainder to retreat in confusion. When his platoon resumed its advance into the German trenches, Knight spotted a group of about 30 enemy soldiers retire into a deep tunnel leading off the trench. Again, he hurried forward alone to confront the enemy, killing an officer and two non-commissioned officers, and capturing 20 other ranks. Later that day, when the progress of his platoon was checked yet again, Knight single-handedly routed the German defenders. By now seriously wounded, he was taken to the rear for treatment. He had been struck in the head by a shell fragment near Buissy. He was rushed to a field ambulance near Hendecourt, but Knight died of his wounds the following day.
Arthur was buried the following day with full military honours at the Dominion Cemetery, Hendecourt-les-Cagnicourt, France. On 19th December 1918, Arthur’s parents travelled to Buckingham Palace where they were presented with his VC by King George V. On the investiture, Mrs Knight commented “Yes it was all so brilliant and nice, and I highly appreciate the honour bestowed upon my poor boy, but it won’t bring him back to us.”
Arthur is commemorated with Knight Crescent in Regina, and a plaque at his former home at 1843 Rae Street in Regina. He is also named on the Saskatchewan War Memorial in Regina. He is also named on the VC obelisk in Barrie, Ontario, and on Plaque No 86 at York Cemetery VC Memorial in Toronto. He is also named on the Haywards Heath War Memorial, on a plaque in the Town Hall, and with a VC commemorative stone placed at Muster Green War Memorial on 2nd September 2018. There is also a Knight Close in Haywards Heath. He is also named on two War Memorials in Reigate, Surrey. He also has a kerbstone in the Church Lads’ Brigade Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire.
In addition to the VC, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19 and Belgian Croix de Guerre. As he died on operational duty his next of kin is eligible to receive the Canadian Memorial Cross. The VC was sold in 1966 to Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: GLENBOW MUSEUM, CALGARY, CANADA.
BURIAL PLACE: DOMINION CEMETERY, HENDECOURT-LES-CAGNICOURT.
PLOT I, ROW F, GRAVE 15
Acknowledgements:
Kevin Brazier – Cemetery Map and Grave Photograph.
Steve Lee www.memorialstovalour.co.uk – Image of his VC stone in Haywards Heath, Sussex.
Glenbow Museum – Image of the Knight VC medal.