Photo: Derek Haynes

Derek Haynes has provided the following:

Peter was born in Sunderland on the 11th of March 1916 to Albert Alexander Knight (born 25th June 1879) and Edith Annie Hudson (born 1st February 1890); at the time of Peter’s birth his father was not married to Edith.

From the very brief surviving service records for Albert, who in WW1 enlisted on the 7th February 1916 as a Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery, they show that,on enlisting, Albert was married to Frances Emily Hounsfield. This marriage took place in the registration district of Watford in the June Q 1909. There were two children from this marriage:Katherine Janice born June Q 1910 in the registration district of Uxbridge and Kenneth A. H. Knight born June Q 1913 in the registration district of West Ham.

Peter’s father was discharged from the Army on the 27th March 1917 suffering from shell shock; this was sustained prior to enlistment whilst working as a War correspondent in France.

In the September Q of 1928 in Sunderland Albert married Edith and by 1939 they were residing at 11 Johanna Street, Sunderland, where Albert was still employed as a journalist.

It is not known where or when Peter enlisted into the R.A.F. The only information available at this time is his service number of 525754 and it is known he served in the Middle East. Peter passed away on the 11th February 1944 in the Ashurst Military Hospital, Oxfordshire; from here his body was returned home.

A service was held at the family home of Mr. and Mrs. S. Owston who were Peter’s Uncle and Aunt. He was laid to rest on Thursday the 17th of February 1944 in Section B Grave no. 687 of Southwick Cemetery. A CWGC headstone marks his final resting place. Inscribed at the base of the stone are the words: TREASURED MEMORIES OF A DEAR SON

Peter’s father died aged 71 years in early May 1951 at the family home of 11 Johanna Street, his occupation was given as a Labourer. He was laid to rest 11th May 1951.

Edith survived her husband by nearly five years. In late March 1956, aged 66 years, she also died at the family home in Johanna Street and was laid to rest 28th March 1956. Both Albert and Edith were buried in the same plot as their son.

Peter Herbert Knight is remembered in Monkwearmouth on M46.02 page 63 and in Peter Gibson's book

The CWGC entry for Leading Aircraftman Knight