Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Robert Knott, a house painter and paper hanger, born 1864 in Edmondthorpe, Leicestershire and his wife Sarah Knott (nee Ecob, married in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1866 in Burton Lazars, Leicestershire, Reginald was born in the 1st quarter of 1895 in Wymondham, Leicestershire, his siblings were, Robert Percy, born 1891 and Bertram, born 1893, both his siblings were born in Wymondham, in March 1901 the family home was at Gypsy Lane, Wymondham. In April 1911 Reginald was employed as a butcher’s apprentice and was residing in the family home at Wymondham, together with his father, a house painter, his mother and siblings, Percy, a platelayer and Bertram, a domestic gardener. In the 3rd quarter of 1916 in the Leicester district, Reginald’s mother died aged 50. In the 2nd quarter of 1919 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district, Reginald’s father died aged 55.
Reginald attested into the Army on a Short Service engagement (For the Duration of the War.) on the 24th August 1914 in Leicester. He gave his current address as Church Lane, Wymondham, Oakham, his age as 20 years and 215 days and confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his father Robert Knott of Wymondham, Oakham as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 10 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 34 and 36 inches. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regimen as a Private, service number 20973 on the 24/8/14. Posted to the Leicestershire Regiment at Barnard Castle on the 11/9/15. Posted to Rugeley Camp on the 2/11/15. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 24/2/16. Joined the 37th Infantry Brigade Depot at Etaples on the 25/2/16. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 25/2/16. Joined 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 17/3/16. Admitted to the 49th Field Ambulance suffering from myalgia on the 25/5/16. Transferred to the 37th D.R.S suffering from myalgia and debility on the 27/5/16. Transferred to the 41st Casualty Clearing Station suffering from debility on the 24/6/16. Transferred to the 6th General Hospital in Rouen on the 26/6/16. Transferred to the 2nd Convalescent Depot in Rouen on the 2/7/16. Joined 12th Infantry Brigade Depot at Etaples (Classified T.B. 8/7/16) on the 11/7/16. Admitted to the 15th Casualty Clearing Post suffering from a shotgun wound to the right wrist on the 26/9/16. Admitted to the 17th Field Ambulance on the 8/12/16. Attached 17th Field Company Royal Engineers on the -?-. Transferred to 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the -?-. Transferred from A.V.C. Section to 33rd M.V.S. for -?- -?- on the -?-. Transferred to 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the -?-. Granted leave on the 17-29/8/17. Killed in action on the 2/11/17. Reginald was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Reginald’s brother R. P. Knott on the 8th November 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?-, J.P., County of Leicestershire, Melton Mowbray on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, nil. Mother of soldier, nil. Full blood brother’s of soldier, R. P. Knott, age 28 of 16, -?- Street, Melton Mowbray, Leicester. B. Knott, age 26 of 25, High Street, Syston, Leicester. Reginald’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary for today records. 2 Nov-17 - Heavy shelling during the night. Weather fine. Casualties:- 2nd Lieutenant H. JOHNSON, 2nd Lieutenant H. A. LEE, 2nd Lieutenant H. E. MAYFIELD wounded. 2nd Lieutenant H. A. LEE remained at duty. No. 10408 Sergeant A. DUDLEY, No. 40022 Lance Corporal A. DOLLEY, No. 40320 Private W. EASTON, No. 20973 Private R. KNOTT, No. 22182 Private A. MARSH killed in action. No. 201192 Private W. ATKINS died of wounds. No. 201902 Private W. A. GEARY gassed. No. 20395 Private J. CHANDLER, No. 40415 Corporal L. ASTELL, No. 201790 Private J. GRANT wounded. No. 201790 Private C. LEE, No. 21353 Private E. WRIGHT, No. 33141 Private F. TOMPKINS wounded but remained at duty.
On Friday October 20th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – WYMONDHAM. – OUR HEROES. It is with deep regret that we have to state Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, grocers and drapers, received the sad intelligence from the War Office that their fifth son, Pte. Fred Johnson, Durham Light Infantry, was killed on the 18th September. Prior to joining the army, deceased was employed on the Midland Railway, as clerk in the Goods department at Sheffield, and was 30 years of age. Very many sympathetic letters have been received from his many friends in Sheffield, he being dearly loved by all who knew him. News has also come to hand of the death of John Veasey, but nothing official has yet been received. Two sons of Mr. and Mrs Willett have been wounded, one is home on leave and is going on well. Mr. Robert Knott has been informed that all three of his sons who are serving at the front have been wounded, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clarke have been notified that their son, Herbert, is wounded and lying in hospital at Fishponds, Bristol, with fractured leg and shrapnel in his foot.