In Memory of Flight Sub-Lieutenant RONALD VICTOR KNIGHT Royal Naval Air Service who died age 23 on 12 March 1917 Son of John N. Knight, of Milton Hill, Wells and Marie Knight. Volunteered from Guys Hospital, 1914; transfered at own request to R.N.A.S., 1916. Remembered with honour WELLS CEMETERY Ronald Knight played for Somerset against South Africa on October 3rd 1912 at The Rec in Bath. South Africa won 24-3. He was only 18 years old. He was sudying medicine at Guy's Hospital in London but at the outbreak of war, he joined the 8th Battalion City of London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and did six month's service in the trenches at Festubert and loos, France. He was granted leave by the Staff Captain 140th Infantry Brigade from the 15th to 24th November 1915 and returned for his leave to his parents house at Milton Hill, Wells. On the 23rd November 1915 his father wrote to his son's regiment, enclosing a medical certificate issued by Dr. B. Manning showing that he was suffering from influenza with a high temperaturw. He was granted extension of leave until 26th January 1916. On 26th January 1916 2nd Lieut. Knight presented himself before a medical board at 2nd Southern General Hospital, Bristol, who found that he was suffering from a dilated heart (caused by active service) and was only fit for light duties. Foillowing his medical he was posted 3/1st City of London Division Cyclists' Company, 130 Bunhill Fields, London EC. During this time he married Miss Gwendoline Dawkes of Portway, Wells. He appeared before a second medical board at the Duke of York's HQ, London on 25th February 1916 and was found fit for general service however, on the same day his CO (of 3/1st Cyclists' Corps) wrote to the Territorial Army Records Office stating that Knight had applied to join his unit and he could do so subject to their approval. Approval was given for the transfer and he was re-gazetted on 9th March 1916. He was transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service, he obtained his Pilot's certificate and was posted to "an east coast flying school" He was promoted to Flt. Sub. Lt. on August 6th 1916. This was not announced in The Times until the 3rd March 1917, 9 days before he died. Flight Sub-Lieutenant R. V. Knight Flight Sub-Ltnt R. V. Knight had been flying for six months and was an assistant instructor at an East Coast Flying School, when he fell on March 12th, Aged 23. He was educated at Wells and Bedford Grammar Schools and at Neuchatel. After a time at Bristol University he went to Guys Hospital and on the declaration of War, volunteered for service and was appointed Lieutenant in a London Battalion, with which he fought at the Battles of Festubert and Loos. In Rugby Football he was captain of Bedford, held the East Midlands and Somerset caps, played at Bath in the first match against the South Africans and was reserve for England at the age of 19. He was also a good hockey player, swimmer and cricketer. He is much regretted as a true friend and a good sportsman. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Ronald Victor Knight, Royal Naval Air Service, died at RAF Cranwell on 12th March 1917 where he was an assistant flying instructor. The engine of the plane in which he was flying failed and he dived to his death. He is buried in Wells Cemetery, Somerset and his name is shown on the war memorial in Wells. Bristol Evening News Friday June 22nd 1917
Notice of his death here .. http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cach...spital&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=safari
FSL R V Knight of Cranwell Naval Air Station was killed in a flying accident on 12 March 1917. Unfortunately, and unusually, the type and serial number of the aeroplane he was flying at the time isn't shown in the major references. Gareth
