Name
William H Knight
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
16/04/1917
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33518
Bedfordshire Regiment
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 41
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Town Memorial,
St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey,
Diocese - Book of Remembrance, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans,
Diocese of St Albans - ROH, St Albans Cathedral, St Albans
Pre War
Born in Camberley, Surrey and Baptised in the Parish of Yorktown, Camberley in July 1883, William Henry Knight was one of four children (one of whom died in childhood) born to Arthur and Rebecca Knight.
At the 1881 Census, his parents were living at 3, Charles Street, Frimley in Surrey and Arthur was employed as a domestic groom. Arthur and Rebecca were 27 and 30 years old respectively and their birthplaces are given as Old Basingstoke, Hampshire for Arthur and Lugwardine, Herefordshire for Rebecca. Their daughter Emma, who was born in Camberley, was 4 months old.
By the time of the 1891 Census, the family had moved to The Stables in London Road, Bushey and Arthur was employed as a coachman by James Harford of Bushey Manor House. They now had three children, Emma Jane, William Henry and Arthur Henry, who were 10, 7 and 3 years old respectively. The two older children were born in Camberley and the youngest in Bushey.
At the 1901 Census, the family were still living at The Stables with the three children and Arthur (Snr.) had remained as a coachman. Emma was now working as a housemaid and William as a Carpenter’s Labourer.
By the 1911 Census, the family had moved again to 15, Park Road, Bushey. The motor car had largely taken over from the horse and carriage and William’s father was now recorded as ‘out of employment’. Emma was not present at the time of the census, but William and his brother were still living there. William was now employed as a cricket groundsman and his brother in ‘photo-process-work for photography.
Wartime Service
William enlisted in Bedford, serving as Private 33518 in the 8th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment. He served on the Western Front in France and Flanders and was killed in action on 16 April 1917.
He is remembered with honour at the Loos Memorial and is commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Parish Church.
Additional Information
His pension record card gives his dependant as his father Arthur Knight of 15 Park Road, Bushey and awards a pension of three shillings per week between 20/11/17 and 21/01/18, increasing to eight shillings per week from 22/01/1918.
Information provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne, Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
