Alfred Knight VC

Sergeant Knight was the only Post Office Rifleman to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

Early Years

Sergeant Knight was born on 24 August, 1888 in Friston Street, Ladywood. He attended St. Philip’s Grammar School in Edgbaston. Knight was a keen sportsman. He was secretary of the football and cricket teams at the Little Oratory Roman Catholic Church. 

Post Office Rifles

Knight joined the staff of the Post Office as an assistant in 1909. After the outbreak of the First World War Knight joined the 2nd London Regiment, 8th Battalion on 26 October.

In May 1915 Knight received special leave to marry Mabel Saunderson. 

The Post Office Riflemen first saw action at the Somme in 1916. They fought at Ypres the following year.

The 8th Battalion’s first major action was in the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May 1917. Knight distinguished himself by bringing in wounded men under heavy fire. He received a certificate from his divisional commander for “gallant conduct”.  Following this he was promoted to Sergeant.

In June 1917, Knight received leave to spend time with his wife and newly born daughter.

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Awarded the Victoria Cross

On 20 September 1917, Sergeant Knight had showed “most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the operations against the enemy positions” (as reported in the London Gazette, the government publication which officially records all awards of the Victoria Cross). During the Battle for Wurst Farm Ridge, Ypres, he single-handedly captured an enemy position by rushing a German Machine gun position and bayoneting two of the men who were operating it.

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After armistice Knight remained a soldier and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Sherwood Foresters on March 17 1919.

Following his discharge from the army, Knight worked in the Post Office and Ministry of Labour, totalling 42 years in the civil service.  Moreover, Knight was made an M.B.E. (Civil Division). After the First World War Knight became president of the Catenian Association, the Roman Catholic businessman’s organisation. Knight died at home on 4 December, 1960.

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