| Birth: | Aug. 24, 1888 | | Death: | Dec. 4, 1960 | 
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in the Ladywood district of Birmingham, Knight's first job was with the city's post office as a clerical assistant, and he was working with the RPO engineering department in Nottingham when the war broke out. He enlisted with the 2/8th (City of London) Battalion of The London Regiment (a.k.a. the Post Office Rifles) in October 1914, but his unit was not posted to France until January 1917. He distinguished himself at the Second Battle of Bullecourt during the Arras Offensive in May 1917, earning a commendation from his CO and a promotion to sergeant for bringing a number of wounded men under heavy fire. Knight was awarded the VC for action at a position called Hubner Farm during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). From his citation: "On 20th September 1917 at Alberta Section, Ypres, Belgium, when his platoon came under very heavy fire from an enemy machine gun, Sergeant Knight rushed through our own barrage and captured it single-handed. His several single-handed actions showed exceptional bravery, and saved a great number of casualties in the company. They were performed under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire, and without regard to personal risk, and were the direct cause of the objective being captured. The platoon officers of the company had become casualties before they had even reached the first objective. Sergeant Knight took command, not only in the men of his own platoon, but of the platoons without officers. His energy in consolidating and reorganising was unflagging." Despite several near misses, Knight survived the battle unharmed. He reported later being fascinated "by the pattern made all the way ‘round me in the mud by the German bullets." Knight stayed in the Army after the Armistice and was made a second lieutenant in the Sherwood Foresters in March 1919. After being demobilised in 1920, he initially resumed his career with the Post Office, then shortly transferred to the Ministry of Labour. He served with the Ministry from 1920 to his retirement in 1951, and was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in that year's Birthday Honours List. He passed away at his home in Birmingham at the age of 72. He was the only soldier in the Post Office Rifles to be awarded the VC, so it seems fitting that his medals are on display at the National Postal Museum, London.
(bio by: Paul F. Wilson)
Search Amazon for Alfred Knight | | | Burial:
Oscott College Road Cemetery
Sutton Coldfield
Warwickshire, England |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Record added: Apr 14, 2005
Find A Grave Memorial# 10783867 |
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