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Auction: 24003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 183

(x) 'Casualty happened just at break of day 6 July 1918. I knew him well and he came from Melbourne. He was the most popular Officer we had, and everyone was sorry he had been killed.'

Private Ward on the final loss of Lieutenant Knight.

A good Polygon Wood September 1917 M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant M. D. Knight, 60th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, late 'A' Squadron, 4th Light Horse Regiment, a veteran of Gallipoli who was killed in action on 6 July 1918

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse engraved 'Lieut. M. D. Knight. 60th Bn. A.I.F.'; 1914-15 Star (129 Pte. M. D. Knight. 4/L. H. Rgt. A.I.F.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. M. D. Knight. A.I.F.), good very fine (4)

M.C. London Gazette 19 March 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He rendered valuable service in the work of consolidation and continued untiringly in his efforts to advance his line. He set a splendid example of fearlessness to his men.'

The original Recommendation dated 30 September 1917 states:

'During the period 26-27 September at POLYGON WOOD, his work on the right flank of the Brigade in organising the defence line, reconnoitring and pushing further forward resulted in us being finally able to establish our line well forward towards the Blue Line. His work took him from the end of our line on several occasions although the enemy shell fire and machine gun fire was very heavy he continued untiringly in his efforts to advance our line.

The splendid example he set his men was in a very large measure responsible for the way in which the right flank got forward and his efforts are worthy of the highest praise.'

Mervyn Digby Knight was born at Bristol, England in 1891 and was a clerk living at St Kilda, Victoria upon the outbreak of the Great War. He was an original member of 'A' Squadron, 4th Light Horse Regiment, having enlisted on 6 August 1914. He served with his unit in Egypt and on Gallipoli during 1915 and was thence commissioned 2nd Lieutenant into the 60th Battalion. The unit was raised in Egypt in February 1916 and Knight was to take his men to the Western Front, sharing in the actions on the Somme and famously at Polygon Wood. It was at this latter event that Knight took his richly-deserved immediate M.C., for the actions in late September 1917.

He would be tragically killed in action on 6 July 1918, when bringing out 9 Platoon, 'C' Company out of the line at Morlacourt after the Battle of Hamel. Several first-hand accounts of his demise are recorded in his Service Records which confirm he was killed instantly by a shell which struck him down where he stood at Treux. He is buried in the Mericourt L'Abbe Communal Cemetery Extension.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£2,400

Starting price
£1900