The Regimental Historian - tells us "Harry was killed on the Regiment's first cavalry charge" which is celebrated every year as part of our Regimental Day - Mons/Moy. He has sent us the picture of the gravestone at Chauny Communal Cemetery.

The letter was forwarded to the dead man’s parents, who made every enquiry to obtain fuller details of their son’s fate. They have read in the paper of a sergeant in the deceased’s Company, who was at Lincoln Hospital, and communicated with him. The sergeant wrote the following kind reply: “I shall be only too pleased to give you all the information I am able as regards your son. The information you received about his death, I feel, is only too true. He died of his wounds, the bullet entering his lungs. He lasted the night but we heard the next day that he was dead. Everybody was very very sorry and deeply moved as he was very popular among his comrades, being a good soldier, straight and honourable. It happened the day the 12th Lancers charged and made such havoc of the Germans, about the end of August. ‘A’ Squadron (deceased’s) were the first to oppose the enemy with rifle fire from high ground. We were to engage the enemy thus while other squadrons were round the hill and charged the Germans, killing 400 of them. Our casualties were nine killed and eight wounded. In the meantime ‘A’ Squadron kept up a continual fire on the Germans, doing considerable damage. While thus occupied your son got hit. We carried him back out of the firing line. The doctor was there very shortly afterwards and dressed him, and said he was dangerously wounded. He was then taken, along with others, on the ambulance wagon to a place called --, where we had been. Also there were a lot of Germans wounded. We retired from that place that night, leaving our wounded behind in -- , who were being cared for by French people. We heard the next morning that he had died of wounds. Hoping you may hear more definite news from the War Office soon, and extending you my deepest sympathy in your preset loss. I am, yours sincerely, H. E. Bushill, Sergt., 12th Lancers.

Rushden's Sad Death Roll - Lance-Corpl. H. Knight Unofficially Reported to be Dead
Killed in Action - Touching Tribute from Rushden People

It is reported unofficially that Lance-Corpl. Harry Knight (Rushden), of the 12th Lancers, son of Mr and Mrs H Knight, of Cromwell-road, Rushden, has been killed in action, and there seems to be no reason to doubt the truth of the statement. The first intimation came in a letter to the fiancee of the deceased, as follows: "No doubt you will think it strange to receive a letter from one who is a perfect stranger to you, but I have no alternative. I have a friend in the 12th Lancers who is now unfortunately in hospital suffering from wounds received in battle, and he asked me to write to you as I think I have news for you. It is with the utmost regret that I have to inform you that your friend died in hospital from wounds. My friend recovered from his neck a locket which he wished you to have, and which you will receive on the first available opportunity. My friend drew him under cover from fire, and put him on a cart and he was despatched to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. May I express my deepest sympathy with you?"

'I have no Fear' - Amongst the last words that Mr Harry Knight spoke before he left home for (it is feared) the last time were, "I have not the slightest fear, whatever my fate may be." With a firm determination to do his duty, he fearlessly faced death, and it seems, was not long in meeting it.

The sad affair was described by the Sergeant of the company to which Lance-Corpl. Knight belonged. In a letter replying to a query from the deceased's parents, Sergeant H.E. Bushill wrote from the Lincoln Hospital, where he lies wounded, as follows: "The information you received about your son's death is, I fear, only too true. He died of a wound caused by a bullet entering his lungs. He lasted the night but we heard next day that he was dead.

"Everybody was very very sorry and deeply moved as he was very popular among his comrades, being a good soldier, straight and honourable.

"It happened the day the 12th Lancers charged and made such havoc of the Germans about the end of August. 'A' Squadron (the deceased's) were the first to oppose the enemy with rifle fire from high ground. We were to engage the enemy thus while other squadrons went round the hill and charged the Germans killing 400 of them. Our casualties were nine killed and eight wounded.

"In the mean time 'A' Squadron kept up a continual fire on the Germans, doing considerable damage. While this occurred your son got hit. We carried him back out of the firing line. The doctor was there shortly afterwards and dressed him, and said he was dangerously wounded. He was then taken, along with others, on the ambulance waggon to a place called Moy, where we had been. There were a lot of wounded Germans, too.

"We retired from the place that night, leaving all the wounded behind in Moy in the care of the French people.

"I hope you may hear more definite news from the War Office. With deepest sympathy in your present loss, I remain, yours sincerely H.E. Bushill, Sergt, 12th Lancers."

The War Office officials are still silent about the death of Lance-Corpl. Knight, but there seems no room to doubt, since the Sergeant of the company speaks of having seen him placed on the ambulance waggon dangerously wounded and of his death one night after.

We understand that Lance-Corpl. Knight, although not unconscious for a time after he was shot, was unable to do more than give signs for a locket to be taken from under his uniform and sent to his fiancee.

He was formerly a member of the Rushden C.L.B and the Lads' Bible Class in connection with St Mary's Church. He was a great favourite amongst his many friends. His influence was very noble, and the friends he made speak in high terms of his character. We publish in this issue a copy of the most recent photograph of Lance-Corpl. Knight.

Much sympathy has been shown to Mr and Mrs Knight during the week. A letter as follows was received from neighbours in Cromwell road:-

"To Mr and Mrs Knight and family. We desire to express to you out heartfelt sympathy as neighbours and friends in this your sad bereavement. All we can say is that you have yielded your son a sacrifice to the cause of truth. We who knew him to be a lad of sterling worth, one who knew this duty and followed it even unto death. God-fearing and upright in all his ways, he was a loyal subject and a good son to those at home. We appreciate this laying down of life for our sakes. 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends'. We sorrow for his loss along with you; we reverently appreciate the gain that is ours by his sacrificial death. May the great God of Love Who gave and Who has taken away unto Himself be the source from which you may find comfort in this time of extreme trial."

At the Women's Adult School on Sunday afternoon a vote of sympathy was passed to Mrs Knight on the loss of her son.

An official letter was received from the War Office on Monday stating that as far as their information (on Sept. 19th) went, Lance-Corpl. Knight was still with the Force.

Rushden Soldier Dies with the Lancers

We are afraid it is only too true that Lance-Corpl Harry Knight, of the 12th Lancers, and son of Mr H Knight of 152, Cromwell-road, Rushden, has met his death by a German bullet. However, his sorrowing parents have consolation that he met a hero's death. It was in the terrible charge of the 12th, when they cut through the Germans and flung back in the Kaiser's teeth a terrific retort to his bluster "The contemptible English army". The report of the Lance-Corpl's death came first to his bereaved parents in a letter from someone who knew one of the deceased soldier's friends and has since been circumstantially confirmed by a sergeant in the dead hero's regiment, now lying wounded in Lincoln, who saw Lance-Corpl Knight shot during the historic charge. The deceased's parents have communicated with the War Office for news of their gallant son, but have received the reply that the War Office has no news of him. The first intimation of their son's death came in a letter written to a lady friend of the deceased, as follows: - "No doubt you will think it strange to receive a letter from one who is a perfect stranger to you, but I have no alternative. I have a friend in the 12th Lancers who is now unfortunately in hospital suffering from wounds received in battle, and he asked me to write to you as I think I have news for you. It is with the utmost regret that I have to inform you that your friend died in hospital from wounds. My friend recovered from his neck a locket which he wished you to have, and which you will receive on the first available opportunity. My friend drew him (Lance-Corpl Knight) under cover from fire, and put him on a cart and he was despatched to the hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. May I express my deepest sympathy with you, and believe me to be yours faithfully."

This letter was forwarded to the dead man's parents, who made every inquiry to obtain further details of their son's fate. They later read in the paper of a sergeant in the deceased's company who was at Lincoln Hospital, and communicated with him. The sergeant wrote the following kind reply: "I shall be only too pleased to give you all the information I am able as regards your son. The information you received about his death, I fear, is only too true. He died of his wounds, the bullet entering his lungs. He lasted the night but we heard next day that he was dead. Everybody was very very sorry and deeply moved as he was very popular among his comrades, being a good soldier, straight and honourable. It happened the day the 12th Lancers charged and made such havoc of the Germans about the end of August. 'A' Squadron (the deceased's) were the first to oppose the enemy with rifle fire from high ground. We were to engage the enemy thus while other squadrons went round the hill and charged the Germans killing 400 of them. Our casualties were nine killed and eight wounded. In the mean time 'A' Squadron kept up a continual fire on the Germans, doing considerable damage. While this occurred your son got hit. We carried him back out of the firing line. The doctor was there shortly afterwards and dressed him, and said he was dangerously wounded. He was then taken, along with others, on the ambulance wagon to a place called , where we had been. Also there were a lot of German wounded. We retired from that place that night, leaving our wounded behind in , who were being cared for by French people. We heard the next morning that he had died of wounds. Hoping you may hear more definite news from the War Office soon, and extending you my deepest sympathy in your present loss, I am, yours sincerely HE Bushill, Sergt, 12th Lancers".

On Monday morning Mrs Knight, received a communication from the Cavalry Record Office, Canterbury, stating that up to the 19th of September her son, Lance-Corpl Knight, was with his regiment.

After 12 Months

Official news has just been received of the death of Lce.-Corpl. Harry Knight, of the 12th Lancers, who was the first soldier from Rushden to be reported killed. The lance-corporal was the son of Mr. Harry Knight, of 152, Cromwell-road, Rushden, and he died in the charge of the “C” Squadron at Crizy, on August 28th, 1914, just before the great retreat. The deceased was a gallant soldier, a non-smoker and teetotaller, and would have sat for his first class education certificate had it not been for the war. He went out on August 16th, 1914, his father had a field postcard from him on the 24th, and the poor fellow died on the 28th. Several of his comrades wrote to his parents reporting his death, but the Records Office had no intimation of his fate until 12 months afterwards. The deepest sympathy will be felt for the deceased hero’s parents on this confirmation of their long held fears.