Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Richard Knight, a stone quarry worker, born 1854 in Thurlaston, Leicestershire and baptised on the 3rd August 1854 in the Parish Church, Thurlaston and his wife Lavina (Savina) Knight (nee Milner, married in the 2nd quarter of 1877 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1852 in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire. Alfred was born in the 1st quarter of 1887 in Huncote, Leicestershire, he had one sibling, Rhoda, born 7th May 1883 in Huncote, in April 1891 the family home was at The Red Lion, Huncote. In March 1901 Alfred was employed as a stone quarry worker and was residing in the family home at Hall House, Huncote, together with his father, a stone quarry worker, his mother and sibling, Constance, born 19th April 1895 in Huncote. Alfred’s father died aged 49 in July 1904 in Huncote. In April 1911 Alfred was employed as a quarry trade stone dresser and was residing in the family home in Huncote, together with his widowed mother and sister Constance, a hosiery trade worker. Alfred also had two older siblings, Sarah Elizabeth, born 28th January 1879 and Agnes, born 21st May 1881, both siblings were born in Huncote. Alfred’s mother died age 79 in the 4th quarter of 1931 in Huncote.
Alfred enlisted/attested into the Regular Army on the 11th December 1915 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 196174 W.R.40032. He gave his place of birth as Huncote, Leicestershire and age as 28 years 314 days. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as kerb dressing. He gave his present address as Red Lion, Huncote, Leicestershire.
His medical examination recorded his apparent age as 28 years 10 months, that he was 5-feet 6½ inches in height and had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his mother, Lavinia Knight, Red Lion, Huncote, Leicestershire.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Attested. Leicester. 11/12/15.
To Army Reserve. 12/12/15.
Mobilised. At Leicester. 8/8/16.
Posted. To Clipstone Depot. (Quarryman @ 2/2 per day). Sapper. 8/8/16.
Joined. A & T I Company. 24/8/16.
Died. In Cawston Manor Red Cross Hospital, Norwich of influenza and pneumonia, at 12.30pm. 21/11/18.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 11/12/15 – 24/8/16. 258 days.
France. 25/8/16 – 4/10/17. 1 year 41 days.
Home Service. 5/10/17 – 2/11/18. 1 year 48 days.
Total Service. 2 years 347 days.
He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In September 1940, as the result of a fire caused by an incendiary bomb at the War Office Record Store in Arnside Street, London, approximately two thirds of 6.5 million soldiers’ documents for the First World War were destroyed. Those records which survived were mostly charred or water damaged and unfit for consultation and became known as the “burnt documents.” As a consequence, the content and condition of the surviving records can range from good to extremely poor. The hand written information is, in some instances barely legible, and the number of pages that should comprise a full record, in some cases are either badly damaged or missing entirely, however where possible the available information has been transcribed so that it may at least offer the reader a little descriptive insight into some, if not all of the events and background information surrounding the period of service.