Herbert Alfred Knights

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, Herbert died on 20th of July 1916 at the age of 21. 

Herbert was born at Lowestoft in 1894, a son of Charles and Emma Knights. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church on 5 December 1894 and his family lived at 9 Gun Lane. In 1901 they lived at 7 Erskine Place, Factory Street. This was still their address in 1911 when Herbert worked as an iron moulder’s apprentice. 

Herbert enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment, service number 23180. In 1916 he went to France to join the 2nd Battalion. 

Colonel Murphy’s ‘The History of the Suffolk Regiment 1914-1927’ has the following account of the 2nd Battalion’s attack at Longueval 20 July 1916:

It was still dark when the artillery bombardment lifted and the advance began. The two Suffolk companies in the forward line marched in double lines of platoons with a front of 140 yards each. Much bitter fighting followed, which, although indecisive locally enabled a footing to be gained in High Wood by the 33rd Division. 

The battalion’s losses were:
Officers: four killed, two wounded, six missing
Other ranks: 108 killed – with an unrecorded number wounded and missing

Herbert was reported missing on 20 July 1916. In September 1917 he was officially presumed to have been killed in action on, or since, 20 July 1916.