Frederick Knight was born in Upper Froyle in June 1887, the son of James and Emma (née Lovell) Knight, and, at the time of the 1911 Census, Frederick was a butcher and the family were still living in the village. Later, his parents would move to Ackender Road, Alton.

On 4th August 1913 Frederick married Flora Elsie Simpson and the couple moved to 13 Drapers Terrace, Basingstoke, where he enlisted. His wife was living there after his death. Later she remarried and became Mrs Flora Heilbron, 72 Winchester Road, Basingstoke.

He served as 25322 Private Frederick Knight with the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment. The 1st Battalion, as part of the 11th Brigade, 4th Division, went from Colchester as part of the original Expeditionary Force. It fought throughout the whole war in France and Belgium, and won the name of ‘The Stone Wallers’.

Frederick was killed in action in France on 4th October 1917, aged 30. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

He is buried in Poelcapelle Cemetery, France, Grave XXXIV.F.10. Frederick George Knight is also commemorated on the Basingstoke War Memorial, along with 233 others killed during The Great War or who died of illness and injury following the conflict.

Source: “The Remembered Ones of the Great War”, 2014, The Alton and Villages Local History Forum (with permission)