KNIGHT, William

William was born in Newport in 1887 the youngest son of Tom & Mary (nee QUINLAN) KNIGHT who were living at 48 New Street, Newport around the time of William’s death.

On the 1st July 1916, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting 7 days, the German defences were barely touched & the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic & with only minimal advances on the southern flank, this initial attack was a complete failure.

William, aged 25, was listed as Missing in Presumed Killed in Action on that day in 1916, & is commemorated on the largest Memorial to the Missing at Thiepval, France with 72,306 of his comrades.

William is also remembered on the County & Newport Borough War Memorials.