Name
Rowland Fergus Knights
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/10/1915
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
S/6010
Rifle Brigade
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 46-48 and 50.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, North Watford Methodist Church Memorial, Watford, Leavesden Road Baptist Church Memorial, Watford,
Pre War
Son of Percy/Percival Henry and Emma Lily (nee WRIGHT) KNIGHTS of Watford.
His parents married 10 November 1890 at St Botolph’s, Bishopsgate, London. Emma died 15 January 1947 in Watford aged 82, and was buried 18 January in North Watford Cemetery; Percival died 19 December 1949 in Luton, Beds, aged 87, and was buried 23 December, also in North Watford Cemetery.
Rowland was born 8 November 1894 in Reading, Berks, and baptised 3 April 1895 at St Luke’s, Reading. He attended Callowland Board School, Watford, from 1 January 1901 to 26 February 1909, and resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 6 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings. On the 1911 Census, a clerk aged 16, he still lived in Watford, with his parents and three siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 4 August 1915; and was killed in action.
Additional Information
There are articles about Rowland in the Watford Illustrated dated 16 October 1915; also a Death announcement in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 16 October 1915; plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 7 October 1916, 6 October 1917, 5 October 1918 and 4 October 1919. Unfortunately, Rowland’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
