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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 999

A poignant Dunkirk 1940 group of three awarded to Private G. T. J. Knight, Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who was killed in during the frenetic last stand at Hazebrouck

1939-45 Star; War Medal 1939-45; Dunkirk Medal, nearly extremely fine (3)

George Thomas Joseph Knight was born on 2 April 1915, the son of J. and E. R. Knight of 'Lansdown', Healey Avenue, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Called up on 1 September 1939, he served at Dunkirk as a Private (No. 5383597) with 'D' Company, 1st Battalion, Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. On 27-28 May 1940, this Battalion held trenches in the Hazebrouck sector which were surrounded and overrun by the enemy. Knight was last seen fighting for his life, before he went missing, aged 25. On 31 October 1943, the War Office wrote to George's distraught father: 'It is consequently being recorded that Private Knight is presumed to have been killed in action on the 27th/28th May 1940.' His remains were never found, though he is commemorated on Column 94 of the Dunkirk Memorial.

Sold with a very emotive archive of original documentation, comprising:

(i)
The Buckingham Palace letter of condolence addressed to 'J. Knight, Esq.', the recipient's father, with its original envelope; the War Office letter of condolence addressed to the recipient's mother (dated 16 April 1948), which states, 'I fear that the possibility of his grave being located is remote.'

(ii)
Fifteen personal letters and one telegram sent by the recipient to his parents while on active service. They cover the period 26 September 1939 - 9 May 1940, and shed light on his activities with the B.E.F. in France; each comes with its original stamped envelope.

(iii)
The War Office letter which notified Mr. J. Knight that his son was 'missing' (dated 16 June 1940); the War Office letter which notified him that his son was 'presumed to have been killed in action' (31 October 1943); a long chain of War Office correspondence regarding Mrs. E. R. Knight's entitlement to a bereaved mother's allowance. All with original envelopes.

(iv)
The recipient's Mobilization 'Notice to Join', dated 1 September 1939, in original envelope; his French-English pocket dictionary, entitled 'What a British Soldier wants to say in French'.

(v)
Six original photographs of the recipient; his birth certificate; his medal confirmation slip.

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Sold for
£580

Starting price
£140