Author Topic: Frederick James Knight 1922 - 1949  (Read 643 times)

Offline Puzzle

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Frederick James Knight 1922 - 1949
« on: Tuesday 19 March 19 16:02 GMT (UK) »
I am trying to find the family of Frederick James Knight, born 1923 in Sydney. I live in Normandy, France close to where a Lancaster bomber crashed on the night of June 6 1944 killing all 7 crew.  There is a monument in their memory, and every year a ceremony in their honour and this is a special year it being the 75th anniversary of D-Day.  Sadly the lady who helped to organise it has recently died and her records cannot be found. 
My husband is trying to pick up the pieces, 3 of the families have been found and we are trying to contact the others, Pilot Officer Frederick Wright being one.
His parents are Frederick Ralph Knight and Margaret Knight but after that I am stuck - does it ring any bells with anyone please?

Offline giblet

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Re: Frederick James Knight 1922 - 1949
« Reply #1 on: Tuesday 19 March 19 20:00 GMT (UK) »
KNIGHT FREDERICK JAMES : Service Number - 422801 : Date of birth - 08 Aug 1922 : Place of birth - HABERFIELD NSW : Place of enlistment - SYDNEY : Next of Kin - KNIGHT FREDERICK

His father is noted as NOK at the address of 7 Boomerang St Hamerfield.
Also  noted is a Mre K.E Williamson at the same address. I have no idea who this is, could be a sister or Aunt??

His military records are online on the below link. [There is photos of him in his file]

http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/search/

Offline giblet

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Re: Frederick James Knight 1922 - 1949
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 19 March 19 20:06 GMT (UK) »
A couple of extra names to work with.

The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 
Thu 6 Jun 1946
KNIGHT - Aus 422801 Treasured memories of our dearly loved and loving son and brother Pilot officer Frederick James Knight Captain Lancaster Bomber 460 Squadron England, made the supreme sacrifice air operations over France June 6 1944 D-Day, only son of Fred and Margaret Knight, and dear brother of Nell and Margo, 7 Boomerang Street Haberfield

KNIGHT -Treasured memories while life lasts of our dearly beloved Pilot Officer Fred Knight. Captain Lancaster Bomber 460 Squadron RAAF who gave up his young and glorious life on the night of D-Day (June 6 1944) over France. "Per ardua adastra". Homage also to his loyal crew who flew on with him into the dawn. Auntie Nell Uncle George and Jeannie.
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17987063

Offline Puzzle

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Re: Frederick James Knight 1922 - 1949
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 19 March 19 21:48 GMT (UK) »
Thank you, this is so helpful.


Offline mollipops1

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Re: Frederick James Knight 1922 - 1949
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 28 March 19 10:16 GMT (UK) »
Hi Puzzle

I have another possible lead building on the information above.

Haberfield would be part of Ashfield district of NSW.

If you search the Ryerson Index for KNIGHT - Haberfield you will find likely deaths for father Frederick Ralph (1960) and mother Margaret (1983): http://ryersonindex.org/search.php

Frederick R. KNIGHT married Margaret CRAWFORD in Annandale district of NSW in 1914 (reg 14034). They had a son Ralph b. 1916 (d. 1916) and daughter Nellie J b. 1917, both in Ashfield district. Nell is mentioned as a sister to Frederick in one of the notices.

There is a marriage for a Nell Jean KNIGHT to James Manning DALE in 1949 in Ashfield district of NSW (reg 4495). See https://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/Pages/family-history-research/family-history-research-nsw.aspx

Nell Jean DALE died in 2000 in Mosman NSW. This led me to this family history showing that James and Nell had lived in Haberfield!
http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~jray/genealogy/bellingen/beatrice.htm#12a

There is still a listing for a J. DALE in Mosman that might be worth following up:
https://www.whitepages.com.au/residential

Or to try to contact this tree owner (click on his photo for an email address) http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~jray/genealogy/

Ralph's birth notice shows his grandfather was also Ralph- he died in March 1916 just before Ralph jnr's birth: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15656362
Death notice - he was only 6 months old
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/239421273