Albert James Knight
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Albert was born in 1894 in St Anns and was the son of Robert William a lace manufacturer and Elizabeth Annie Knight, née Black. His father was born in 1859 in Ironville Derbyshire and his mother Elizabeth Annie Black was born in 1861 in St Anns, they were married in 1884 , their marriage was recorded in the Nottingham Registration district, they went on to have 6 children who were : Edith Annie b1886 Arthur William b1888, Nellie Lillian b1890, Walter Percival b1892, Albert James b1894 and Dorothy Lizzie b1901. In the 1911 census the family are living at 44 Caledon Road, Sherwood, Nottingham and are shown as Robert William 52 yrs head of the family and a lace manufacturer , plain net, he is living with his wife Elizabeth Annie 50 yrs and 5 of their children , Edith Annie 25 yrs, Nellie Lillian 21 yrs , Walter Percival 19 yrs cashier , plain net, Albert James 17 yrs an assistant chemist and Dorothy Lizzie 10 yrs scholar. His older brother, Gunner Arthur William Knight, died of wounds on 21 March 1918.
Albert served with the 3rd battalion Sherwood Foresters , however he was later attached to the 11th battalion who he was with when he was wounded on 1st June 1917 he died the following day 2nd June 1917, he is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (grave ref X.A.41)
Nottingham Post obituary (abridged), 5 April 1918: 'Knight. Died of shell wound, March 21st, Gunner Arthur William Knight, husband of Polly (sic) Knight, 159 (sic) Nottingham Road. Wife and baby, Arthur. Age 30. Eldest son of Mr and Mrs RW Knight, 44 Caledon Road, brother of the late Lieutenant AJ Knight MC.'An article in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 1st November 1917:- “PARENTS RECEIVE THEIR DEAD SON'S M.C.“Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Knight, of Caledon-road, Nottingham, attended the investiture at Sheffield yesterday [31st October 1917] by General Sir John Maxwell and received the Military Cross which was awarded to their son, the late Second-Lieut. A. J. Knight, of the Notts. and Derby Regiment. The gallant young officer was wounded on June 1st and died next day. He was a nephew of Sir A. W. Black, M.P.”An account of how he earned the award and received his mortal wounds were recorded in the battalion history. ('Fryer, Percy, “The Men from the Greenwood. Being the War History of the 11th (Service) Battalion Sherwood Foresters,” p. 87, Cresswell & Oaksford, Nottingham ) “At morning “stand-to” on June 1st this Officer and a party of men were heavily bombed by about 25 of the enemy who appeared in the sap jutting out from their own front line to within about 30 yards of our own. At the first discharge all the men except Lieut. Knight and 70560 Pte. Harris became casualties. These two alone remaining bombed the party until all their bombs were finished when Harris went down the trench for another store. He was only absent a few moments but returned to find the Officer lying at the bottom of the trench severely wounded. The enemy had by this time disappeared. Beyond all doubt the hostile party had intended to raid the right of the Battalion line, and had it not been for the bravery of Lieutenant Knight and Pte. Harris, would have undoubtedly succeeded in their purpose.”Both above articles courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
