Lives of the First World War

Flight Sub-Lieut. R. V. Knight, younger son of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Knight, of Milton, was killed in a flying accident in Lincolnshire on Mar. 12th.When at a height of 200 feet his engine stopped, with the result that the machine nose-dived to earth and was wrecked. Death was instantaneous. He was educated at the Wells Cathedral School, and Bedford School. At the outbreak of war he was at Guy's Hospital, and without hesitation offered his services to his country. After training at Bisley he proceeded to France early in May, 1915, to fill a vacancy in the commissioned ranks of the 8th Batt. of the City of London Post Office Rifles. During six months' service in France he fought in the battles of Festubert and Loos. Leaving the front on Friday, November 12th, 1915, after having been in the trenches for a fortnight, he came home to England, and was married to Miss Gwendoleen Dawkes, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. Dawkes, then was offered and accepted a position in a London Cyclist Corps, a section of which he commanded for some time prior to joining the Royal Naval Air Service. In this branch of the service he made rapid strides, and obtained his pilot's certificate in a remarkably short space of time. For some months past he has been one of the assistant instructors at an East Coast flying school. At Bedford he was captain of the Rugby XV., and at the outbreak of war was captain of the Wells Rugby Club. As a three-quarter he was always dangerous, his fine turn of speed enabling him to score many tries, whilst as a place kick he had few equals. He held Somerset and East Midland County caps, and would without a doubt have figured in an England XV. after the war, having already been chosen as a reserve in an international match before the outbreak of hostilities. At Association football he played a good forward game and in swimming was an expert.—Wells Journal. by permission of Bedford School

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