KNIGHT, Mervyn Digby
| Service Numbers: | 129, Commissioned Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914, A Squadron original |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 60th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Bristol, England, 1891 |
| Home Town: | St Kilda, Port Phillip, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Le Hamel, Valle de Somme, France, 6 July 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Mericourt-L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension Plot III, Row D, Grave No. 12 Aged 27 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 129, 4th Light Horse Regiment, A Squadron original | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 129, 4th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 15 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 129, 4th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Evacuated sick to HS Gloucester Castle then to Helipolis | |
| 7 Jul 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 2nd ANZAC Corps Mounted Regiment (XXII Corps) | |
| 2 Sep 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 60th Infantry Battalion | |
| 7 Sep 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 60th Infantry Battalion | |
| 13 Sep 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 60th Infantry Battalion | |
| 3 May 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Commissioned Officer, 60th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (Second) | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Honoured Military Cross, Polygon Wood, Date of recommendation 30 Sep 1917 | |
| 25 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Commissioned Officer, 60th Infantry Battalion, Villers-Bretonneux | |
| 6 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Commissioned Officer, 60th Infantry Battalion, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 60th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1918-07-06 | |
| 30 Jul 2019: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Commissioned Officer, 60th Infantry Battalion, Third Ypres |
Mervyn Digby Knight, MC
Born at Bristol, England in 1891 and was a clerk living at St Kilda, Victoria upon the outbreak of the Great War
He was an original member of 'A' Squadron, 4th Light Horse Regiment, having enlisted on 6 August 1914
He served with his unit in Egypt and on Gallipoli during 1915 and was thence commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the 60th Battalion
The unit was raised in Egypt in February 1916 and Knight was to take his men to the Western Front, sharing in the actions on the Somme and famously at Polygon Wood - It was at this latter event that Knight took his deserved immediate M.C., for the actions in late September 1917
The original Recommendation dated 30 September 1917 states: "During the period 26-27 September at POLYGON WOOD, his work on the right flank of the Brigade in organising the defence line, reconnoitring and pushing further forward resulted in us being finally able to establish our line well forward towards the Blue Line. His work took him from the end of our line on several occasions although the enemy shell fire and machine gun fire was very heavy he continued untiringly in his efforts to advance our line"
The MC was awarded "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He rendered valuable service in the work of consolidation and continued untiringly in his efforts to advance his line. He set a splendid example of fearlessness to his men" - Promulgated in the London Gazette of 16 November 1917
He would be tragically killed in action on 6 July 1918, when bringing out 9 Platoon, 'C' Company out of the line at Morlacourt after the Battle of Hamel
Several first-hand accounts of his demise are recorded in his Service Records which confirm he was killed instantly by a shell which struck him down where he stood at Treux. He is buried in the Mericourt L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension
Submitted 13 November 2024 by James Coleman
Biography contributed by Elizabeth Allen
Mervyn Digby KNIGHT was born in Bristol, England in 1891
His parents were Henry KNIGHT & Sarah Jane RYNHART
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