KNIGHT, H J,
Corporal, was awarded the Victoria Cross for services in South Africa
[London Gazette, 4 January 1901]: "H J Knight, Corporal, 1st Battalion The
Liverpool Regiment , No 1 Company, 4th Division, Mounted Infantry. On the
21st August during the operations near Van Wyk's Vlei, Corporal Knight was
posted in some rocks with four men, covering the right rear of a detachment
of the same company, who, under Captain Ewart, were holding the right of the
line. The enemy, about fifty strong, attacked Captain Ewart's right and
almost surrounded, at short range, Corporal Knight's small party. That
non-commissioned officer held his ground, directing his party to retire one
by one to better cover, while he maintained his position for nearly an hour,
covering the withdrawal of Captain Ewart's force, and losing two of his four
men. He then retired, bringing with him two wounded men. One of these he
left in a place of safety, the other he carried for nearly two miles. The
party were hotly engaged during the whole time". He became a Sergeant.
