Gnr. Frederick Handel Knight
Royal Artillery 61st Battery 97th Anti Tank Regiment
from:Caerau, South Wales
(d.10th/11th July 1944)
A letter received by my husband's grandmother on the death of his grandfather, Frederick Knight.
"Captain T.Fleming R.A, 61/97TH Anti Tank Regt Royal Artillery B.W.E.F. 14TH July 1944
Dear Madam, It is with extreme regret and a deep sense of sympathy that I have to inform you of the death of your husband, No 1118428 Gnr. Knight F.H On the night of 10/11th of July while serving under my command. Your husband was a member of a 6-pounder anti tank gun detatchment and had only joined my Battery 2 days before as a reinforcement. Whilst in action during the night, the enemy counter-attacked to regain the ground which we had taken during the day, and your husband was struck in the head by a bullet. He was buried nearby by his colleagues, and details of his grave have been passed to the authorities. You will be informed in due course of the exact location of his grave by the Imperial War Graves Commission. Unfortunately security prevents me telling you now.
May I, on my own behalf, and of that of the gunners who worked with your husband during that short time, empress our sincere sympathy with you in your sorrow. We had only known him a short time but we had already accepted him as a friend and he was thoroughly well liked. We offer our sincere condolence in your loss. It may help you to know that he suffered no pain at all and his death was instantaneous
Yours very Sincerely, T.Fleming, Capt R.A.
