KNIGHT, William John
DIVISIONAL UNIT: Royal Army Medical Corps
SERVICE NO: 1325
AWARDS: Military Cross with 2 bars
RESIDENCE: Guelph – Ontario / Calgary - Alberta
DATE OF BIRTH: October 7, 1889
Los Angeles – California – U.S.A.
DATE OF DEATH: September 13, 1921. 31 years 11 months
CEMETERY: Cork – Republic of Ireland
PARENTS: Mr. Frank & Louisa Knight – Ontario – California – U.S.A.
Occupation: Physician Religion: Church of England
Enlistment: November 20, 1914 – Calgary – Alberta into 4th Field Ambulance
Enlistment Age: 25 years 1 month
William was born in Los Angeles, California and early in his life his family moved to Exeter and this is where he received his Education. He graduated from the Univerity of Western Ontario as a medical doctor in 1911. He then moved to Alberta and upon war being declared he enlisted into the Canadian Army Medical Corps.
He sailed from Canada on the S.S. Northland and arrived in England on April 29, 1915. He was confirmed as an acting Sergeant while at Digbate Camp in July 1915. Once in France he was granted command as a Temporary Lieutenant and this was in August 1915. He was then struck off strength from the Canadian Army Medical Corps and appointed to the Royal Army Medical Corps on August 3, 1915.
Lieutenant Knight went overseas into France on September 1, 1915, was invested with the Military Cross on January 1, 1916, was promoted to rank of full Lieutenant on July 26, 1916, appointed temporary Captain from July 26, 1916 – December 23, 1918, and then appointed Acting Major from December 23, 1918 – March 10, 1919. Then he was invested with his first and second bars to his Military Cross.
Lieutenant Knight was mention in despatches on May 30, 1916.
While he was with the 73rd Field Ambulance of the Royal Army Medical Corps when he won his Military Cross on May 30, 1916. The 73rd Field Ambulance was attached to the 73rd Infantry Brigade of the 24th British Division. He possibly won his first and second bars to his military cross while still with the 73rd Field Ambulance. He was attached to the 89th Field Ambulance in July 1919 when he received his second bar citation.
He earned his Military Cross sometime in late 1915 and his citation reads – “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in charge of an advanced dressing station under heavy shell fire. He continued to attend to his wounded with great coolness.”
His first Military Cross bar citation on July 16, 1918 read – For conspicuous gallentry and devotion to duty. He worked continuously during an engagement and attended to the wounded under heavy fire, and later went into a village which was being heavily shelled and brought away several wounded men. He went back to the front line after the position had been evacuated and brought back several badly wounded men. He worked with untiring energy throughout the operations and saved many lives.”
His second Military Cross bar citation on July 29, 1919 read – “During the operations east of Ypres from
September 28th – October 3, 1918, he was in charge of the stretcher bearers attached to the brigade. He led his bearers in the rear of the attacking infantry, dressing their wounds as they fell, and seeing that every case was carried away from the battlefield. During the whole of the advance he showed an utter contempt for danger, dressing the wounded under shell, machine-gun and rifle fire. Later, when the advance came to a standstill, he established touch with all the regimental medical officers and personally conducted the evacuation of the wounded from the Regimental Aid Posts. On many occasions he went forward with the stretcher squads to bring the wounded back to the Regimental Aid Stations. He displayed great gallantry throughout and did admiral work.”
Captain Knight was invalided to a hospital in Cork, Ireland possibly St Bricin’s Military Hospital, Shanakiel Hospital or the Central Military Hospital at Victoria Barracks and it was here where he died on September 13, 1921.
