Robert James Knights

A Private with the 7th Bn., Robert died on 13th of October 1915 at the age of 25. 

Robert was born at Carlton Colville on 22 September 1890, a son of Samuel Henry and Elizabeth Knights. He was baptised at Saint Peter’s Church, Kirkley, on 21 December 1892, and his family lived at Kirkley. 

Robert attended Wildes School, Lowestoft, and, from 1 October 1900, was a pupil at Saint Margaret’s School, and his family lived at Hall Lane, Oulton, Lowestoft. They were still living at Hall Lane in 1911 and Robert was a greengrocer ‘working on his own account.’ Later his parents lived at Council Cottage, Yarmouth Road, Oulton Broad, Lowestoft.

Robert volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. He joined the Suffolk Regiment and was posted to the 7th Battalion. He arrived in France with the 7th battalion on 30 May 1915. He served with B Company. 

The War Diary for the 7th Battalion has:

12 October. 5.45 p.m. Parade to take over trenches from 1st Guards Brigade near Hohenzollern Redoubt.

13 October. 12 noon. Intense bombardment of German lines by our artillery.
2 p.m. Attack commences in accordance with Battalion order.
B Company under cover of smoke attacked German trenches . .advancing over fire trench. Owing to smoke lifting and very heavy machine-gun fire . . this attack did not reach its objective but was instrumental in keeping out bomb attacks on (our) sap.
Major Currey, 2nd Lieutenants Hartopp and Lee were killed. Lieutenant Daveron wounded and about 70 other ranks killed and wounded. 
At the same time A Company supported the Norfolk bombers in attack a sap. Great opposition was encountered at first and many casualties occurred. The party eventually rushed the German barrier and proceeded to bomb a trench.
The machine-guns were ordered to follow this party and support advance with fire. 
Captain Cobbold was killed whilst leading the party of Suffolk bombers and 2nd Lieutenant Smith severely wounded.
As the Suffolk bombers had become expended when the point G.5.d.10.3 was reached and the attack checked in consequence. O.C. A Company was ordered to consolidate his position on the line gained. 
At the same time D Company supported the Norfolk bombers in attacking a sap. This attack was temporarily held up by German bombers at their barrier which was eventually rushed by D Company.
Captain Henty was wounded and Captain Sorley and Lieutenant Wood killed whilst leading the attack. 
Lieutenant Deighton then took command and by bombing down the trench drove the enemy back . . when this point was reached it was reported that the bombs had been used up. D was ordered to consolidate this position.
As soon as points G.5.d.10.3 and G.6.c.2.1 were reached there were pushed forward 3 Suffolk and 1 Northamptonshire machine-guns with the object of establishing a strong point at G.5.d.9.1 and commanding the approach from the enemy’s trenches which had been closed by us with double stops. This arrangement proved quite satisfactory as by it the German bombers were easily kept at a distance by rifle and machine-gun fire. 
Casualties: eight officers killed and three wounded. 150 Other Ranks killed and wounded.    

Note: The Commonwealth War Graves website gives Robert's surname as Knight. This is incorrected and census and baptism records show him as Knights as does a memorial notice placed in newspapers, by his family, on the anniversary of his death. Note also that the CWGC website states he served with '33' Company: this cannot be the case as the 7th Battalion did not use numerical designations for their companies, it is probable that he served with 'B' Company.