Photo by Kay Newman

KILLED IN ACTION

Pte. C. N. Knight, Latrobe

Mr. and Mrs. C. Knight, of Latrobe, received advice at the weekend that their youngest son, Pte. C. N. (.''Charlie") Knight (25) had been killed in action in New Guinea on New Year s Day. One of the first to enlist from the Latrobe district, Pte. Knight saw much service in the Middle East, amt was at Tobruk for nine months. He returned home on leave last year, and was married to Miss Betty Anne Coventry, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H Coventry, of Latrobe. On rejoining his unit, he was transferred to the Pacific zone.

Pte Knight was an outstanding athlete and rendered valuable service to the Latrobe Football Club for many years. He was also a Union representative player, and an ideal club man. As a star cyclist he will be remembered as finishing second in the Photo courtesy Dennis Dwyer           Latrobe Wheel Race, in 1936. In the same year he was also second in the Burnie Wheel Race. Two years later he competed successfully at the Wangaratta cycling carnival, finishing third in the Wheel Race. On his return to the State he filled a similar position in the Devonport Wheel Race. A prominent boxer, he was undefeated in amateur ranks, and figured in exhibition bouts on the N.W. Coast. He was also a keen swimmer, cricketer and badminton player. He was a strong supporter of the Methodist Church.

As a mark of respect the Union Jack was flown at half-mast from the flag pole at the Memorial Reserve on Saturday, and yesterday the flags of the Latrobe Football and Bicycle Race Clubs were half-masted.

"A Friend" writes; "The war has claimed another bright young life. Charlie Knight, so well known on Coastal football fields and cycling tracks, has given his all. He was upright, cheerful, obliging - a good son, a good citizen and a good sport. No one who knew Charlie would expect to see him anywhere else than in the front line of attack where any fighting was to he done. He was ''as game as they make them." The saddest feature of war -is that it claims the lives of so many of his type. His passing will be mourned by his comrades in various sports, and by all who knew him and were thus able to appreciate his sterling character. May the realisation of the fact that he died the death of a hero act as a healing balm to his grief stricken relatives."

Advocate Burnie 18 Jan 1943