Clifton, St James Church - Part 3
George Ernest Knights- 7890031
George Ernest Knights was born in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1920. He was the first child of Stanley George Knights and Rosa Ellen (nee Prime), a sister was born two years later. George was just 11 years old when his mother died a month before Christmas 1932, when the family lived at The Elders, Clifton Grove. His bus driver father was re-married in 1935 to Hilda Moran and a
step-sister to George was born three years later. The family moved to live at 14 Pleasley Road, Whiston. George enlisted in the Army and joined the Royal Armoured Corps. He was a Trooper, service number 7890031, with 1st Fife and Forfar Yeomanry. His unit went to France and Belgium as part of the British Expeditionary Force in 1939. The German invasion of France and the Low Countries began on 10 May 1940, and as they pushed through the Ardennes it looked as though they would cut off the B.E.F. in Belgium. The Yeomanry part of the 1st Light Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade operated the Mk VI tank, which had a .50 machine gun as its main armament, and also the Universal Carrier. On 18 May 1940 the unit was in the vicinity of Ath and had been ordered to hold the line of the River Dendre until mid-day. At 08:00 the next day the German’s attacked along the entire front, and the line was held until the desired time. The enemy had managed to cross bridges in Ath that had not been destroyed and forced the regiment to withdraw. The regiments‘A’ squadron took most of the attack, although the Ath to Tournai road was kept open for their withdrawal. The war diary records that 6 men were killed, 3 wounded, 1 missing and 2 prisoners. One of those killed was George, aged just 19 years old. Trooper George Ernest Knights is buried in Tongre-Notre Dame Communal Cemetery, Belgium. He is the only Commonwealth casualty in this cemetery, in the small village of Tongre-Notre Dame, which is south of Ath and about 10 miles from the French border. |
Percy Morris - 4525314
Percy Morris was born in Gainsborough in the second quarter of 1902 to Charles and Laura Morris later living as a child at 64 Thrumpton Lane, Retford. He was married in Rotherham in 1927 and had two sons.
He enlisted in the army and originally service with the West Yorkshire Regiment, with service number 4525314. He later transferred to the Royal Artillery, 126 Battery, 29 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. He died on 10 November 1940, his death being registered in Norwich. He was 38 years old and was buried in Rotherham (Moorgate) Cemetery. |
Norman Parker - 14776140
Norman Parker was born in Bolton, the son of Walter and M. H. Parker. Later the family moved to Rotherham.
He joined the army, service number 14776140, and was a Fusilier with 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. The battalion was part of 15th (Scottish) Division and in March 1945 was to take part in Operation Plunder, crossing of the River Rhine. At 02:00 on 24 March, the Division landed between Wesel and Rees. Initially there was no opposition, but later they ran into determined resistance, although later in the afternoon they managed to link up with the airborne troops.Norman Parker was killed on 26 March 1945, aged 18, and is now buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
He joined the army, service number 14776140, and was a Fusilier with 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers. The battalion was part of 15th (Scottish) Division and in March 1945 was to take part in Operation Plunder, crossing of the River Rhine. At 02:00 on 24 March, the Division landed between Wesel and Rees. Initially there was no opposition, but later they ran into determined resistance, although later in the afternoon they managed to link up with the airborne troops.Norman Parker was killed on 26 March 1945, aged 18, and is now buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery.
Thomas Malcolm Prentice - 2662256
Thomas Malcolm Prentice was born in 1920 in Rotherham, the son of Malcolm Prentice and Mabel (nee Griffiths) of 10 Wordsworth Drive, Herringthorpe, Rotherham. Malcolm, as he was known, was educated at Spurley Hey Central School and then went on to work for J J Habershon & Sons Ltd, and later at Rotherham Power Station.
Guardsman Prentice, service number 2662256, had been in the 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards for about three years and had served overseas for two years. His last duties before going overseas were in London at Buckingham Palace.By early 1943 3rd battalion of the Coldstream Guards had fought extensively in the North African campaign as part of the Montgomery’s Eighth Army. In March 1943 the German’s in Tunisia were in retreat. The 3rd battalion’s chain of command was part of 201st Guards Motor Brigade and XXX Corps. Montgomery’s planned objective for Operation Pugilist, commencing on 16 March, was to destroy the enemy now opposing the Eighth Army in the Mareth position, and to advance and capture the town of Sfax. On the 16th March 1943 the 3rd Battalion, together with the 6th Battalion Grenadier Guards, were ordered to attack by night the "Horseshoe" ridge, an advanced position of the Mareth Line. This was thought to be a lightly held outpost, but was afterwards found to be defended by the greater part of the 90th Light Division and a Panzer Grenadier Battalion. Unexpected minefields, extensive wire, and very heavy fire brought the night attack to a standstill, and it was with great difficulty and many casualties that the remaining men of the forward companies were withdrawn. Only nine men returned from No1 Company, which had advanced through a minefield incurring heavy casualties, to capture one of the enemy forward positions. It was the only success in an otherwise disastrous attack.
Thomas Malcolm Prentice, aged 23 was killed between 16 and 17 March 1943. He is buried in Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia. A memorial service was held at the guards chapel on 7 April 1943 and also at the Church of Our Father in Moorgate, Rotherham.
Guardsman Prentice, service number 2662256, had been in the 3rd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards for about three years and had served overseas for two years. His last duties before going overseas were in London at Buckingham Palace.By early 1943 3rd battalion of the Coldstream Guards had fought extensively in the North African campaign as part of the Montgomery’s Eighth Army. In March 1943 the German’s in Tunisia were in retreat. The 3rd battalion’s chain of command was part of 201st Guards Motor Brigade and XXX Corps. Montgomery’s planned objective for Operation Pugilist, commencing on 16 March, was to destroy the enemy now opposing the Eighth Army in the Mareth position, and to advance and capture the town of Sfax. On the 16th March 1943 the 3rd Battalion, together with the 6th Battalion Grenadier Guards, were ordered to attack by night the "Horseshoe" ridge, an advanced position of the Mareth Line. This was thought to be a lightly held outpost, but was afterwards found to be defended by the greater part of the 90th Light Division and a Panzer Grenadier Battalion. Unexpected minefields, extensive wire, and very heavy fire brought the night attack to a standstill, and it was with great difficulty and many casualties that the remaining men of the forward companies were withdrawn. Only nine men returned from No1 Company, which had advanced through a minefield incurring heavy casualties, to capture one of the enemy forward positions. It was the only success in an otherwise disastrous attack.
Thomas Malcolm Prentice, aged 23 was killed between 16 and 17 March 1943. He is buried in Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia. A memorial service was held at the guards chapel on 7 April 1943 and also at the Church of Our Father in Moorgate, Rotherham.