Another One In From the Cold

[Ian C]

At last, after a wait of 4 and a half years the CWGC have finally informed me that Gerald is to be include on the Debt Of Honour Register.

Gerald was born on 18 September, 1894, the son of Robert and Lena Featherstone Knight and was baptised on 24 October, 1894, at the Parish Church of Bassingbourne, Cambridgeshire.

Gerald’s Grandfather was the Rev. Robert Knight, who was Vicar of All Saints Church, Bow Brickhill, for the period 1907-1914, and it would seem that at some point during his grandfathers incumbency he came to live with him at Bow Brickhill. The North Bucks Times of 15 August 1914 reported that three men from Bow Brickhill, W. Garrett, G. Saunders and G. Knight, had left the village to join the army. On 17 August he was at the Headquarters Inns Of Court, Officer Training Corps, where he applied for a Temporary Commission in the regular army for the period of the war, his preferred branch of the service was infantry or artillery, with the cavalry being his last choice. Three days later he was inspected by a regular officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps, and was passed fit, and on 22 August his application was approved by the Lieutenant Colonel of the training Corps. He completed his Attestation on 26 September 1914, still at the Inns Of Court, OTC, this shows that he agreed to serve for at least four years in the Territorial Force in the United Kingdom. He spent only 39 days in the Territorial Force, (29.9 to 3.11.14), before being discharged on appointment to a commission. The North Bucks Times of 21 November 1914 reported that he had been commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment.

His service record is then not very clear. However, on 8 April 1916, he completed Form M.T. 315a, requesting to be considered for a permanent commission in the regular army. On this he described himself as a 2nd Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, but attached to the Royal Flying Corps. An undated entry on a Minute Sheet, states that he was appointed as a Flying Officer, Royal Flying Corps, with effect from 29 September 1916.

Gerald was posted to No. 12 Squadron, which was attached to 12th Wing, part of 3rd Brigade, attached to the 3rd Army, and which had been based at Avesnes-le-Comte, to the West of Arras, since March 1916.

On 9th November 1916, flying aircraft serial number 2502, he set off with 15 other BE2C bombers of 12 & 13 squadrons, to attack a German ammunition dump at Vraucourt, North East of Bapaume, the attack being made from the South and West. The bombers and their escorts, Nieuport Scouts and F.E.2s, of 60 and 11 squadrons respectively, were intercepted by Jastas 1 & 2, amongst whom, was Manfred Von Richthofen, Gerald, however, was not to be one of his 80 victories. He in fact became the fifth victory of Leutnant der Reserve, Hans Imelmann, a nineteen year old from Hanover. He damaged Gerald’s plane, forcing him to land behind enemy lines in the Mory - Sapignies area, and thus into captivity.

He was a prisoner of war for only nine months, during which time he was held at three different camps, Osnabruck, Clausthal and Strohen, and made three escapes. The first was from the Citadel at Cambrai, where he was being interrogated prior to being sent to a permanent camp. The second and third were both from Strohen.

This last camp that he was held in, at a town of the same name in the province of Hanover, was situated some eighty miles from the Dutch border, and on16th August 1917, he made good his escape. This he did by hiding in a recess in the bathroom. This recess measured about ten inches deep by one foot wide; he stood in this and covered the gap with whitewashed canvas frames that he had brought into the bathroom under his coat. Here he remained standing for twelve hours while several guards came and went, before escaping through the window under cover of dark.

He then made his way to Holland where he spent sometime in a quarantine camp at Enschede before being repatriated to England on 13th September 1917. The North Bucks Times of 9th October 1917 reported his safe arrival back in England and also stated that he had been received by the King at Buckingham Palace.

He was appointed Temporary Captain, (while so employed) on 23 September 1918, and then Acting Captain on 1 October 1918.

He was admitted to hospital at Eaton Square, London, on 30 June 1919, and passed away during the morning of 30 October 1919, aged 25, from Sarcoma. His death was reported in the North Bucks Times of 11th November 1919.

Six weeks after his death, on 16th December 1919, the London Gazette reported that “in recognition of his gallantry in escaping from captivity whilst a Prisoner of War” the King had awarded Gerald the Military Cross.

Ian C

[Will O'Brien]

Ian Well Done... Being familiar with Gerald's story I feel he's a worthy recipient of all the effort it takes to get someone back in the fold. I have to say I'm a little surprised you've managed to get him recognised. I always assumed that he was no longer serving when he died. Were you able to convince the MOD that his illness could be attributed to his service?. Also have you ever been able to get hold of his book, which was published in 1919?

[Ian C]

Hi Will

I have to admit from that point of view it was very easy, I just told them what I knew and gave them a copy of his death cert, they have done the rest.

I have read his book, the library at CMK got me a copy, from memory it was in storage in some sort of repository in Yorkshire. I'm sure they could get it again if you were interested.

Regards

Ian

[Andrew P]

Hi Ian

Very well done in getting this airman remembered 'officially'.

Regards

Andrew

[Will O'Brien]

Hi Will

I have to admit from that point of view it was very easy, I just told them what I knew and gave them a copy of his death cert, they have done the rest.

I have read his book, the library at CMK got me a copy, from memory it was in storage in some sort of repository in Yorkshire. I'm sure they could get it again if you were interested.

Regards

Ian

Ian.......God works in mysterious ways. . Seriously, it's nice to see the powers that be make that sort of decision..................Thanks for the heads up regarding Geralds book. I must pop up to the Library & see if they can secure it again as I've wanted to read it ever since I found out about it's existance.

[welshdoc]

As Sarcoma is a cancer, the MOD/CWGC must have accepted his commemoration for another reason, presumably as there is nothing ito contradict it , being he was a serving officer.

[Terry Denham]

A serving man will always qualify no matter what the cause of death.

I will post an 'In From The Cold' listing when the process is officially completed - which can take a day or a year depending on various factors!

[chrisharley9]

Terry

just for info what are the various factors

Chris

[Ian C]

I must admit, I always thought cause of death was pretty much irrelevant, one chap I know of was only in the forces for six weeks before dying of Spotted Fever!

Ian C

[Terry Denham]

Getting MoD is only one step in the process (but obviously the most important step!). An acceptance triggers several other processes.

Thereafter a decision has to be made where the official place of commemoration should be. For a case where the grave is unknown, this can mean discussion with the appropriate Historical Branch of the MoD or dominion equivalents before a decision is confirmed. Then the notifications and requests for stonework amendments have to go out.

For names with a grave, confirmation is required from the cemetery authority and a physical inspection of the site has to take place to verify existance and condition of any private memorial or the lack of one entirely. Sometimes this can be accomplished quickly and sometimes takes time. It helps if the proposer of the case has supplied details such a grave number, photograph of the grave etc. However, a visual inspection is always made.

Once that is done, the name is usually added to the Debt of Honour (I regard that as the equivalent of being 'Gazetted' - ie. It is then official.).

After that there has to be the legal process of getting permission to erect a headstone etc if that is the appropriate action. Plus all the various record amendments required internally and notification to other offices etc.

[Terry Denham]

For a serving man/woman, the cause of death is totally irrelevant.

Only two questions have to be answered.

1) Was the person serving in a Commonwealth military unit at death? (even if on only his second day!)

2) Did the person die within the qualifying dates.

'Yes' is the required answer to both questions.

[Will O'Brien]

A serving man will always qualify no matter what the cause of death.

Which is what threw me initially with Gerald Knight as I was always under the impression that his service had ended prior to his death. Ian's submission must have proved otherwise.

[chrisharley9]

Terry

thanks for the very informative answer

Chris