Remembering Today Casualty Details | CWGC KNOTT, JOHN MAURICE WAKEFIELD Rank: Lieutenant Service No: 95220 Date of Death: 11/06/1942 Age: 22 Regiment/Service: 6th Royal Tank Regiment, R.A.C. Awards: Mentioned in Despatches Cemetery: KNIGHTSBRIDGE WAR CEMETERY, ACROMA Grave Reference: 10. K. 23. Additional Information: Son of Lt.Col. J. E. Knott, C.M.G., D.S.O., and Dorothy Mary Knott, of Bromyard, Herefordshire Personal Inscription VERILY, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU HE THAT BELIEVETH ON ME HATH EVERLASTING LIFE
Knott, John Maurice Wakefield (1920-1942) Sherborne School, UK, Book of Remembrance for former pupils who died in the Second World War, 1939-1945. Knott, John Maurice Wakefield (1920-1942)
UK, Army Roll of Honour, 1939-1945 Name: John Knott Given Initials: J M W Rank: Lieutenant Death Date: 11 Jun 1942 Number: 95220 Birth Place: Eire (for the young ones amongst us, its what we used to call Southern Ireland) Residence: Herefordshire Regiment at Enlistment: Royal Tank Regiment RAC Branch at Enlistment: Royal Armoured Corps Theatre of War: Middle East Regiment at Death: Royal Tank Regiment RAC Branch at Death: Royal Armoured Corps England, Andrews Newspaper Index Cards, 1790-1976 Name: John Maurice Wakefield Knott Father's name: J E Knott Death Date: Jun 1942 Death Place: Libya UK, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 Name: Mr John Maurice Wakefield Knott Gender: Male Age: 20 Birth Date: abt 1920 Departure Date: 1 Aug 1940 Port of Departure: Manchester, England Destination Port: Montreal, Canada Ship Name: Manchester Progress Search Ship Database: Search for the Manchester Progress in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database Shipping line: Manchester Liners Limited Official Number: 14732 Master: J E Riley Seems he spent some time in Canada & US TD
Personal Number: 95220 Rank: Lieutenant Name: John Maurice Wakefield KNOTT, MiD Unit: Royal Tank Regiment London Gazette : 4 July 1939 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34642/page/4568/data.pdf The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the Royal Military College, to be 2nd Lts. 1st July 1939:— R. Tank R.— John Maurice Wakefield KNOTT. London Gazette : 20 December 1940 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35020/supplement/7176/data.pdf The names of the undermentioned have been brought to notice in recognition of distinguished services in connection with operations in the field. March-June, 1940. ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS. 2/Lt. J. M. W. KNOTT. London Gazette : 18 February 1941 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35077/supplement/954/data.pdf The undermentioned 2nd Lts. to be Lts.:— 1st Jan. 1941:— R.T.R. J. M. W. Knott (95220). See also Person Page His brother: William Espenett Bayly KNOTT, Royal Marines Person Page London Gazette : 5 June 1942 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35584/supplement/2435/data.pdf R.M. The undermentioned to be Tempy. 2nd Lts.:— William Espenett Bayly Knott.
John had been sent to North America, to aid the Dewar Mission, in command of a demonstration party of twelve men together with a Matilda IIA and a Valentine aboard Manchester Progress. They arrived at Montreal 16 Aug 40 before being promptly shipped via Camp Borden, Ontario to the Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. Directorate of Movements : C-5729 - Héritage His party consisted of: Directorate of Movements : C-5729 - Héritage
Anecdotal evidence suggests that Knott (then serving with 7RTR) wasn't first choice to go with the Matilda to the USA - another crew from 7RTR were initially selected but were bumped following a disciplinary incident (source = 'Dan Dan The I Tank man'). Why crews from 7RTR? These crews all had combat experience of the Infantry Tank Mk II from France, including a lot of tank maintenance. In fact, Knott probably commanded the last operational Infantry Tank Mk II north of the Somme and fought the tank long after it's one remaining engine had packed up. If I remember correctly, the Infantry Tank sent to the USA stayed there . I don't know where it ended up. It isn't the same vehicle wreck that was at the Aberdeen Proving Ground and now at U.S. Army Armor & Cavalry Coll., Fort Benning, GA (USA) [last bit of info from http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Matildas.pdf] By the way, although GRAMPUS was a valid 7RTR name, the tank sent to the USA should, by rights, have been GRAMPUS II as the first so-named Matilda was lost in France and Flanders and neither JMW Knott nor the deselected crew ever commanded the original GRAMPUS.
Looks like to me Nik. For some APG background see Foreign Materials Section at Aberdeen Proving Ground.