Introduction

In 2014 the centenary of the outbreak of World War One, Cumnock History Group began researching the names on the Cumnock War Memorial plus other men and women with Cumnock connections mentioned on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or in the Cumnock Chronicle of the time. The research is not limited to those who died but also to men and women who served, using family history information.

The group would like to appeal to individuals with knowledge of family members for photographs of the soldier, either in uniform or not, and photos of medals or other memorabilia eg letters sent home from the Front. If you would be prepared to share these on this site, please email the web manager info@cumnockhistorygroup.org The group is willing to share any copies of documents found with the soldier's descendants.

Monday 24 March 2014

Lieutenant Edward Knight

2nd Lieutenant Edward Knight of the Royal Scots Fusiliers was born at Aldershot in 1897.

His parents were Captain and Mrs Mary Knight of 80 Ayr Road,  Cumnock

He was only 21 when he died in France on 20th September 1918.

He is buried at Queant Road Cemetery, Buissy in France and is remembered on Cumnock War Memorial.

All this information came from Commonwealth War Graves Commission 

Update 31 July 2014
His parents are buried in Cumnock new cemetery.
Captain S Knight Ayrshire Yeomanry died 12 5 1924 and wife Mary Mills 22 6 1947, son Ed. Knight  2nd Lieut killed in action 20th September 1918.

I couldn't find a marriage in Scotland or England for them.
I found father's name Stephen Knight by looking for his death record.

With this information found his military pension record
They were married in Dundalk,  Northern Ireland  on 3 Jul 1893.

Stephen Knight     Self (Head)
Mary Mills     Spouse
Stephen Geo Knight     Child
Edward Knight     Child
Arthur Knight     Child
Charles Fredk Knight     Child 


Cumnock Connections tree 

Update 27 Feb 2018
His brother also served as reported in the Cumnock Chronicle 1915



Family gravestone in Cumnock New Cemetery

Taken by Morag Gordon Aug 2015

17 comments:

  1. Kay there was a Mrs Knight who lived in Herdston Place who also had a shop on right hand side as you entered the scheme, perhaps that could be a connection ?

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  2. Yes, there is a connection. The Mrs. Knight who lived in Herdston Place was the wife of Charles F. Knight.

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  3. Stephen George Knight was my grandfather, his brother Arthur emigrated to South Africa, his brother Charles continued to live in Cumnock until his death.

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  4. Thanks for all this information. I don't suppose you have any photos?

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  5. No,don't have any photos. Everything we had,letters,photos,postcards and telegram advising of Edward's (he was known to the family as Teddy) death was donated to the Ayrshire Yeomanry for their museum.

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    1. Do you know WHO they gave the paperwork to?

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    2. Do you know WHO they gave the paperwork to?

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    3. WHO was it you gave the paperwork to? If it was who I think it was the paperwork will either be lying in a cupboard somewhere or lost.

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    4. It was the family who gave it to Ayrshire Yeomanry. Would be great if you could locate it!

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  6. Can you email me cumnockhistory at icloud.com ?

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  7. Kay, you have asked me to e mail you. Is there something else you wish to know about the Knight family?

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  8. I went to the Ayrshire Yeomanry Museum and there wasn't anything on display about the Knights. I have some names to contact re this but wondered if you could give me any more details of the donation before I do.

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  9. The Royal British Legion website section "Every Man Remembered" has a posting which says Edward was the second of four sons. This is incorrect, he was the youngest of the four sons.

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  10. Are you sure? I have birthdates for all 4 and he is the second.

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  11. http://cumnockconnections.tribalpages.com/family-tree/cumnockconnections/12786/3787/Stephen-Knight-Family

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  12. Edward Knight was my great uncle. Whilst going through old family papers I found a letter sent to Edward's father,my great grandfather. It is dated 23/09/1918, only a couple of days after Edward's death. Part of the letter is missing, the part I have reads as follows:- My Dear Captain Knight, I am a stranger to you but I am commanding the company to which your sons were posted when they joined this battalion. I find it very difficult to put into words what I want to say about Edwards death. I had only known him a few days but it was long enough for me to realise what a fine officer I had in the company,he did everything so willingly and thoroughly, he led his platoon into action splendidly and throughout the night he successfully met several difficult situations. After he was hit his main concern was about the protection of the company against a turning ..... This is the end of the page I have,the rest of the letter is missing.

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