Pte 24605 James Knight

• Age: 23
• From: Toxteth Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 28th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

1901 Census shows the family living at 5 Marshall Street, Toxteth Park. His father William Gibson Knight is aged 32 and a dock labourer, his mother Susannah is 35 and a laundress. They have four children William Henry 10, Elizabeth 8, James 7 and Gertrude 2, who were all born in Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows the family still living at 5 Marshall Street, Liverpool. His father William Gibson Knight is aged 42 and employed as a dock labourer, his mother Susannah is  45 and a laundress. They have been married for twenty years  and have had seven children of which two had died. They still have four children living at home at the taking of the Census, Elizabeth aged 18, a machine feeder, James 17 employed as a porter at a leather manufacturers, Gertrude 12 and John aged 6  are at school. They also have a nephew John Reddy aged 17 living with them.   

James enlisted in Liverpool and was serving with the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24605.

He was reported to be amongst the wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post 25th July 1916

WOUNDED. SHELL-SHOCK

King's (Liverpools). - Knight, 24605) J. (Liverpool)

James was killed in action on 28th April 1917, aged 23. 

James' death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 24th May, 1917 as follows: (it does contain some discrepencies)

Pte. James Knight, K.L.R., aged 22, killed in action on April 29, had been wounded and was at home last July. He returned to the front in January. His younger brother was killed on May 16, 1915. He resided with his father at 36, St.hilda-street N., and worked at Messrs. S.H.Perry's, Victoria-street. 

James' death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 24th May, 1917 as follows: (it does contain some discrepencies);

Pte. James Knight, K.L.R., aged 22, killed in action on April 29, had been wounded and was at home last July. He returned to the front in January. His younger brother was killed on May 16, 1915. He resided with his father at 36, St.hilda-street N., and worked at Messrs. S.H.Perry's, Victoria-street. [S.H.Perry, provisions, merchants] 

James' body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

Soldiers Effects, Army pay of £3 10s 10d and a War Gratuity of £10 to father William Gibson and pension to sister Miss Gertrude Knight, 36 St Hilda St, Liverpool.

James' loss was the second that the family had to deal with, as his brother Willam Henry serving as Lance Corporal 7580 was killed in action with the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards on 16th May 1915. Like James, he sadly has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France. His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 04th June 1915

KNIGHT - May 16, killed in action somewhere in France, Lance-Corporal William Henry Knight (2nd Scots Guards), the dearly beloved son of William and S. Knight of 36 St Hilda Street, Walton (late of Marshall Street). R.I.P. [Service No. 7580]

Both James and William Henry Knight are commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panels 68 (James) and 67 (William Henry).

On the 1921 Census at St Hilda Street, his widowed father, William, is aged 52, a dock labourer, and is living with his son John aged 16. His father died, aged 65, in 1934. 

We currently have no further information on James Knight. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.