Heslop's Local Advertiser
Thomas Knight
Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Knight was born 1891 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, one of 7 children of whom only 6 survived, 3 sons and 3 daughters. His father John Knight was born at New Springs near Wigan, Lancashire in 1855 and married, in the district of Wigan, in 1879, Alice Marsh native of Crawford Village, Lancaster born 1859. They remained in New Springs until moving to the north east and settling at Crow Hall Lane, Windy Nook where John found employment as a coal miner until his death in 1895. Alice relied on her elder children for an income, George worked as a putter below ground, Jane was a dressmaker and Annie a domestic servant. In 1911 only 3 of her family were living with her, Lizzie helped her mother at home while Thomas now aged 20 was a putter and Stephen aged 17 a landing lad at the colliery.
Thomas enlisted at Gateshead, August 1914, assigned as Private 2231 1/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. They massed at Bishop Auckland and as part of the Northumbrian Division moved to Boldon Colliery then Ravensworth Park returning to Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the October. Mobilised by the War Office and after final training they departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force, attached to the 151st Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division landing at Boulogne April 17th 1915. Entrained, by the 23rd they were concentrated near Steenvoorde in Belgium just as the German army had attacked nearby Ypres using poison gas for the first time and the division was rushed into battle taking part in the Battle of St. Julien, Frezenburg Ridge and Bellewaarde Ridge, all phases of the Second Battles of Ypres. They did not take part in further major battles until their arrival on the Somme beginning July 1916 but remained on the Ypres salient.
Private 2231 Thomas Knight Durham Light Infantry was killed in action on the Ypres salient March 2nd 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 54,395 names of servicemen from the Commonwealth inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres, Belgium, panel 36 & 38 which commemorates those who fought on the salient until August 15th 1917 and have no known grave. Private Knight was 25 years old and single.
His mother received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 45 Crow Hall Lane, Windy Nook, Gateshead, County Durham.
Alice Knight nee Marsh never remarried, she died in the district of Gateshead in 1921 aged 62 years.
In God’s safe keeping, Rest In Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop's Local Advertiser 17/3/1916:
"Mrs. Knight, 45, Crow Hall Lane, Felling, has received news that her son, Private T. Knight, 9th D.L.I., has been killed in action."
He is remembered at Felling on F32.06 and F32.24 and at Heworth on H92.03 H92.04 and H92.07
