The Beccles paper of 22nd August 1916 had the report: DEATH OF SOLDIER. Mr W. Knights of Puddingmoor received news that his son William was killed in action in France on 19 July. He was formerly employed in the machine department at the Caxton Printing Works. Early in the war he enlisted in the 6th Suffolk Cyclists, and was quite recently transferred to the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry.
William Madeley Knights was one of the "Knights" included in the list of "Beccles Men who served in the Great War 1914-18", as compiled by a local committee and first published in book form in 1920.
KNIGHTS, Alfred, 16, Alexandra-road, 1914, R.F.C., 2nd Air Mech. Disch. March, 1919.
KNIGHTS, Daniel, 21, Old Mill-terrace, 1915, R. A.S.C., Pte. Disch. Feb., 1919.
KNIGHTS, Edward B., 27, Smallgate, 1914, R.F.A., Bomb. Disch. Jan., 1919.
KNIGHTS, Ernest, 16, Alexandra-road, 1914, R.F.A., Sgnr. Disch. June, 1919.
KNIGHTS, Frank V., 45, Caxton-road, 1915, Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers, Cpl. W. Disch. Feb., 1919.
KNIGHTS, Harry W., 17, Hungate-lane, 1905, R.F.A., Gnr. Disch. Mar., 1919.
KNIGHTS, James W., 99, Denmark-road., 1914, Suffolk Yeomanry, Cpl.
KNIGHTS, Jack K., 18, Puddingmoor, 1914, 1/5 Suffolks, Pte. Died of W.. April 22, 1917. (William's brother.)
KNIGHTS, William M., 18, Puddingmoor, 1914, 2/1 Oxford and Bucks L.L, Pte. Killed July 19, 1916.
KNIGHTS, Mark, 16, Alexandra-road, 1916, R.F.C., Cpl. Disch. Feb., 1919.
He was also included on the the Caxton Press Roll of Honour which appeared in the Beccles Paper of 20th April 1920 - "W.M.Knights Pte 2/1st Batt Oxford & Bucks LI Machine".
Individual Events and Attributes
Birth 31 Aug 1890 Wangford Suffolk England
Baptism 16 Sep 1890 (age Infant) Wangford Suffolk England
Death 19 Jul 1916 (age 25) Laventie Pas de Calais France
Burial 22 Jul 1916 (app) (age 25) Lens Pas de Calais France
Occupation Soldier
Religion Church of England
Group/Caste Membership Caucasian
National or Tribal Origin English
Additional Information
Birth Family: ...of William Lockwood KNIGHTS and Harriet Elizabeth WARD
Address: Beccles sub-district
Baptism Beccles sub-district
Death Cause: Killed in action.
Serving in the "A" Company, 2nd/1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.
Address: Laventie,
Burial Grave/Memorial reference: Panel 83 to 85.
Address: Loos Memorial Cemetery
Individual Note
Residence Census 1891 RG12/1488/30:- Welbourne Cottages, Denmark Road, Beccles, Suffolk.
Residence Census 1901 RG13/1799/11:- Pudding Moor, Beccles, Suffolk.
1916 19th July:- Serving as Private 5313 in the "A" Company 2nd/1st Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Killed in action. Probably killed during the German bombardment at Laventie.
Enlisted at Beccles.
Awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
