Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An extremely rare Second World War North Africa operations D.C.M., M.M. group of seven awarded to Sergeant W. J. Knight, East Kent Regiment, a regimentally unique combination of gallantry awards for the last war, between winning which he was wounded but refused to be evacuated: At Galal during the El Alamein operations of November 1942, well out in front of his platoon in a captured enemy Fiat car, he ran into 20 enemy tanks - notwithstanding the fact his Fiat car stalled and his machine-gun jammed, he nonetheless approached the leading two tanks on foot and took their surrender

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.VI.R. (6286256 Sjt. W. J. Knight, The Buffs), note difference in last digit of number; Military Medal, G.VI.R. (6286258 Sjt. W. J. Knight, The Buffs); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (6286258 Pte. W. Knight, The Buffs); 1939-45 Star; Africa Star, clasp, 8th Army; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, good very fine and better (7) £8000-10000

D.C.M. London Gazette 28 January 1943. The original recommendation states:

‘On 2 November 1942, when 8th Armoured Brigade cut the enemy’s line of retreat at Galal, Sergeant Knight was in command of a Motor Platoon. This platoon was defending one of the flanks of the R.H.A. battery and he successfully mopped up an enemy pocket of resistance.

At one moment he found himself alone well out in front of his platoon in a captured Fiat car, doing a reconnaissance, when suddenly from the East a large enemy column, headed by 20 tanks, approached his position and was engaged by our forces. He was in the line of fire of both sides. He tried to open fire with a captured Breda L.M.G. but it failed to function; undaunted he made a quick decision and drove toward the enemy tanks that were now halted. The engine in the vehicle stalled so he jumped out and ran toward the leading enemy tanks. Whereupon the crews of two of the tanks promptly surrendered to him and he escorted them back, still under heavy fire from both sides, to our lines. The coolness and bearing shown by this N.C.O. on this occasion was of the highest order and was a magnificent example to all around him and was instrumental in persuading these tanks to surrender.

Sergeant Knight has commanded this Motor Platoon since the Platoon Commander was wounded and he has done so remarkably well. During periods of heavy shelling and bombing, when the men have been visibly shaken, he has held them together and set them a magnificent example and had led them with good judgement and determination on all occasions. I strongly recommend him for an award in view of his outstanding conduct in action when in command of the Platoon.’

M.M. London Gazette 17 June 1943. The original recommendation states:

On 23 January 1943, ‘B’ Motor Company, 1st Buffs, as part of 3rd R.T.R., Regimental Group, seven miles south of Castel Benito, was ordered to advance through the enclosed country on that village. Information was vague but a patrol of the 11th Hussars reported two 88mm. guns, one of which had just knocked out one of their armoured cars, two miles ahead.

Sergeant Knight was commanding 8 Platoon; he had been wounded through the thigh on 14 January but with characteristic fortitude had refused to be evacuated. After dismounting Sergeant Knight’s platoon led the advance astride the road, and soon came under small arms fire from the thick bush, where movement was seen to the left of the road. Our machine-guns closely following were brought into action, and Sergeant Knight continued the advance, the H.E. and A.P. fire of the 88s becoming more intense. With great skill and disregard for his safety he made excellent use of the available cover, at times halting a section to open fire when a good target appeared or to give covering fire over a particularly exposed piece of ground. It is estimated that during this advance the Platoon destroyed at least two enemy vehicles, killed about 20 enemy and caused them to withdraw their guns well to the rear behind the anti-tank ditch.

Sergeant Knight continued his advance in the face of ever-increasing fire until he was about 150 yards from the enemy’s main position, and about two miles in front of our leading tanks; the intensity of the close-range enemy fire of all arms was now so great that further advance was impossible, and at great personal risk he went round his platoon and saw that all were in good fire positions. His platoon now opened fire to such good purpose that an enemy M.G. and mortar were put out of action, and the fire of the anti-tank guns so diminished as to allow our armour to advance slightly. The Officer Commanding 3rd R.T.R., realising the strength of the opposition, ordered ‘B’ Company to withdraw to the tanks. Sergeant Knight carried out the withdrawal of his platoon with such skill and gallantry that he suffered only two casualties.

His personal conduct was an inspiration to all, and it is estimated that his intrepid action not only inflicted heavy casualties but caused the withdrawal of the enemy two hours later.

Sergeant Knight was awarded the D.C.M. for his action at Galal on 7 November 1942, but this further example of his cool leadership is deserving of a distinct and separate award.’

William John Knight was born in Portsmouth in October 1914 and enlisted in the Buffs at Ashford, Kent in August 1936. He is also credited with having served in No. 50 (Middle East) Commando and to have escaped Crete by swimming out to a boat.

But it was in North Africa with the 1st Battalion, The Buffs, that he was twice decorated, namely for the above cited deeds at Galal in November 1942 and for like deeds near Castel Benito in January 1943. During the former action, when he took the surrender of two tanks, he is credited with having shot the officer of the first one - who was standing in his turret - as it advanced towards him.

Knight, who received his D.C.M. riband from Montgomery in the field, later attended a Buckingham Palace investiture at which he received both of his decorations. Following his gallant exploits in the Middle East, he served in Northern Ireland and Gibraltar, in addition to further active service in Greece towards the War’s end - latterly in the acting rank of Warrant Officer Class II. He was finally discharged in August 1948 and returned to Kent, where he was employed as a driver for British Road Services; sold with a copied photograph of his D.C.M. field investiture and copied research.