First World War in Headington & Marston
Roll of Honour of St Andrew’s Church, Old Headington

Ernest Albert Alick KNIGHT (1897–1917)

Ernest Albert Alick Knight (always known as Alick, which is mis-spelt as “Alec” on the board in St Andrew’s Church) was born in Sutton, Surrey in 1897, the son of Albert Edward Knight (born in Swindon on 27 July 1871) and Annie Jacob (born in Barton on 14 February 1872). His parents were married at St Andrew’s Church in Old Headington on 27 October 1895.

At the time of his marriage in 1895, Alick’s father was a bricklayer “improver” (a junior bricklayer), but soon afterwards joined the Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as a career soldier and rose to be a Sergeant in the 43rd Battalion. Hence his three children were born in army barracks:

• Ernest Albert Alick Knight (born in Sutton, Surrey on 27 January 1897)
• Violet Knight (born in the Punjab in 1898/9)
• Orotava Ruth Knight, known as Ruth (born in Cowley in 1901, registered second quarter).

At the time of the 1901 census Alick’s father was probably still abroad, but Alick (4) and Violet (2) were based at Cowley Barracks with their mother, who was shortly due to give birth to her third child.

By the time of the 1911 census Alick (14) was working as a newsboy at the station book stall. His father Albert (39), now an army pensioner, was working as a night watchman for a college, and his sisters Violet (12) and Ruth (9) were at school. The family were then living at 53 Rectory Road (then called Pembroke Street) in Cowley St John parish; this was a large nine-roomed house, and they had three boarders.

Alick’s father died at the age of 41 and was buried in Headington Cemetery on 29 April 1913. His widow brought the children back up to her home in Barton, probably to live with her parents.

In the First World War Alick Knight served as a Corporal in the ill-fated 2nd/4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No. 267352). He was wounded in France on 31 August 1917 and was presumably taken to hospital in Rouen, where he died at the age of 20.

Knight was buried at the St Sever Cemetery extension in France (P. III. A. 2B), and is listed on the Roll of Honour of St Andrew’s Church, Old Headington.

He is also remembered at the end of his family gravestone in Headington Cemetery (left), which reads:

In loving memory of

ELIZABETH JACOB
DIED 22.6.1904, AGED 65, 
WIFE OF
GEORGE JACOB
DIED 29.1.1927, aged 92
[Alick’s maternal grandparents]

ANNIE KNIGHT (NEE JACOB)
14.2.1872–26.8.1963
[Alick’s mother]

ALBERT KNIGHT
(SGT. 43 O.B.L.I.)
27.7.1871–29.4.1913
[Alick’s father]

AND THEIR SON
ALICK KNIGHT 
(CPL. 2/4 O.B.L.I.)
27. 1. 1897 – 29. 8. 1917