The scarce Military Medal awarded to Norman Knight, 2nd Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment for his gallantry during an attack on German machine-gun posts at La Basse Ville. This attack was lead by Cpl Leslie Andrew who was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for this act.

 

Norman Knight was born at Agra, India on 9th May 1886, son of Sergt-Maj. James Frank  and Edith Rachel Knight. When James Knight retired from the British Army he brought the family to New Zealand where they settled at Maungaturoto, North Auckland for some years before coming to Taranaki about 1911. Norman married Gertrude Gardner in 1910, and at the time of his enlistment in the NZEF in mid-1916 he was working as a cheesemaker at Kaponga.

 

Norman embarked with the 19th Reinforcements and was posted to 7th (Wellington West Coast) Company, 2nd Battalion, Wellington Infantry Regiment in May 1917. At La Basse Ville on 31st July 1917 Norman was part of a section under Cpl Leslie Andrew tasked with clearing a German machine-gun nest. Norman described the action in the subsequent gathering of evidence in support of the recommendation for the awarding of the Victoria Cross to Andrew:

 

"I was with Corporal Andrew's section in the attack on LA BASSE VILLE on the morning of 31st July 1917. When we crossed the Railway we attacked an enemy Machine Gun Post at "A" which was firing on the men attacking on our left. We captured the Post, and the gun killing some of the crew; though some managed to get away round a building. Corporal Andrew then went on to "B" with Privates Ritchie, McCall and Cooper. I stayed at "A" and afterwards brought in the Machine Gun."

 

Norman was subsequently awarded the Military Medal for this action, with the recommendation stating:

 

For great initiative and valour. In the attack by his company on La Basse Ville on 31st July,  this soldier during an attack on a machine-gun post specially distinguished himself by dashing forward when the gun crew were bombed and secured the machine-gun from the enemy crew. By his initiative and dash he undoubtedly saved his section from further casualties. His conduct was most commendable.

 

Norman was promoted to corporal in October 1917, serving throughout the Passchendaele campaign and into 1918. On 16th April the 2nd Wellington Regiment were holding the line at La Signy Farm. They suffered from an enemy artillery bombardment early in the morning and it was likely during this that Norman was killed in action. He is buried in Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps.

 

The Military Medal is correctly impressed 31302 Pte N.R. KNIGHT. 2/WELL: R.

 

Service file held at Archives New Zealand

Photograph held at Archives New Zealand