Name
James Lewis Charles Knight (*1)
1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/10/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
75157
Royal Field Artillery
88th Bty, 14th Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY
J. 10.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Cheshunt Town Memorial (*1), Christ Church (formerly Holy Trinity Church) Memorial, Waltham Cross, Not on the Buntingford memorials, Not on the Anstey memorials
Pre War
(James) Lewis Charles Knight was born in Anstey, Hertfordshire, in 1894, the son of Frederick Knight a, brewers labourer and Emma Knight (nee Richardson) and one of five children although one died in infancy. His name at birth was registered as Lewis Charles Richardson as his parents did not marry until April 1900 in Bethnal Green, London.
At the time of the 1901 Census James, then called Lewis Charley, aged 6, was living with his grandparents Richard and Mary Richardson at, New Barns, Anstey, Herts. His parents were then living at, 26 Affleck Street, Clerkenwell, London, with his 1-month-old brother Frederick Knight and his father was working as a brewer's labourer. His brother was baptised on 7 April 1901 at St Silas, Pentonville, London.
The 1911 Census recorded James as Lewis aged 16, working as a labourer, living with his parents and sisters Alice (8) and Florrie (3), at 29 Eleanor Road, Waltham Cross, Herts. His father was then working as a Carman. Their boarder Eliza Cook, was working as a Music Teacher. Another brother, Joseph, was born in Waltham Cross, Herts in 1912.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Ponders End, Enfield, Herts and it is likely that at the outbreak of war, he was already a serving soldier as he as he served in France from 23 August 1914 with the Royal Field Artillery, 88th Battery,14th Brigade.
James died on 6 October 1916, from wounds received in action, during the Battle of the Somme (1 July – 18 November 1916) and is buried in Carnoy Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £12 10s and pay owing of £21 7s 9d from two separate payments. She also received a dependents' pension of 3s 6d a week from 15 October 1917, later increased to 5 shillings.
*1 He is recorded as J L C Knight, on the Holy Trinity Memorial and T L C Knight on the Cheshunt Town Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Kate Thompson, Stuart Osborne, Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, Carol Emery
