Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Became a Prisoner of War in June 1941 in Greece, liberated from a German PoW camp in May 1945

Completed by St Ignatius College, Adelaide

On the 25th of June 1909 Kenneth Hugh Knights was born in Norfolk, England. He grew up in Yarmouth, England where he finished school and was captain of his cricket team. Prior to the war Kenneth found himself in Australia. Happily married to Eilleen L. Knights with a son named Kenneth. Living in Strathalbyn South Australia, Kenneth worked as a cook. Standing at 5ft. 10 inches, at the age of 30 and 4 months of protestant faith. Kenneth enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the 3rd of November 1939, in Adelaide. Going in having prior experience, belonging to the 18 Machine Gun regiment ([1]).

Formed in November 1939 ([2]­), Kenneth was one of the first few men to join the 6th Division Calvary Regiment. HHHis former skills useful, becoming a group II cook for the regiment. Two months later, embarking overseas to the Middle East onboard the H.M.A.T U3, from Sydney. Arriving in Egypt the division immediately went to Qastina, a village in Palestine, joining the rest of the 6th Division to train. As well as occasional training, Kenneth would get up around 5 o’clock every day, preparing food for the “hungriest lot of beggars you ever saw.” ([3]) Sundays for the soldiers were free, with many like Kenneth attending morning mass. He would also spend his time painting, sharing his works with reporter M.J MacNally who described them as displaying “whole-souled ambition ([4]).”

At the end of the year the regiment moved into the Western Desert. Bardia was the first of Kenneth’s battles. On the 3rd of January 1941, troops attacked and broke through the western face of the defensive perimeter. Bardia the small town was captured by the afternoon of the 4th of January; however the Italian resistance did not cease until morning of the 5th ([5]). Bardia being only the prelude, that same month, Kenneth’s division moved to Tobruk, a town on the Libyan coast. On the 22nd of January 1941 the Italian defence perimeter was attacked by the 6th Australian division ([6]). On the 28th of February 1941, Kenneth had to be evacuated to an 8 BGH (British General Hospital) for haemorrhoids. While the rest of his battalion continued to fight in Tobruk until early April 1941, when they were withdrawn. For the next month Kenneth moved hospitals and was discharged on the 28th of March.

Marching into a training camp on the 8th of April 1941, he embarked overseas. Along this time transferring battalions joining the 2/6th Infantry Battalion, fighting with them in Greece against Italy in the Battle of Crete. By the end of April, Kenneth was fighting with over 42,000 British, commonwealth and Greek soldiers. On the 21st of May 1941, New Zealand infantry battalions defending the airfield and high ground had withdrawn ([7]). Causing the Germans to waste no time tipping the battle in their favour. After six days of heavy fighting, orders were received to evacuate forces. Around 6500 soldiers were left behind ([8]), including Knights. Remaining soldiers were left to hide until their forced surrender on June 1st.

On the 23rd of June 1941 Kenneth was officially reported missing. A letter was sent home to his wife and son notifying them of his unknown whereabouts. A letter like this would sometimes follow bad news, a soldier’s death or them never being found. Luckily for the Knights family, on the 9th of September 1941, Kenneth was confirmed a German P.O.W (Prisoner of War) at Stalag XVIIIA in Wolfsberg Austria.

Kenneth arrived with the first British and commonwealth prisoners in July, from a transit camp in Thessaloniki Greece. Captured, soldiers made their way on foot, road, or sea, to a temporary camp in Salonika, Greece. From there soldiers were packed into railway wagons with fifty others, journeying to Stalag XVIIIA, the following days leaving them hungry, thirsty, and tired. Arriving soldiers wouldn’t know what to expect, being the first commonwealth prisoners they had no intel about the camp or its treatment towards POWs. Hearing about other camps these soldiers could only expect the worst.

Within a few days after arriving, a prisoner would be assigned to a Work Party of 15-20 men. Those considered ‘lucky’ were assigned farm work, providing them with adequate food. Those less fortunate were sent to an iron mine, quarry or a timber mill, where hours were long and work difficult ([9]). However, compared to other camps, prisoners had a fairly easy-going time. Long working hours laying roads, or breaking stones with 3 kilo hammers weren’t a thing. Left with ample amounts of free time soldiers would pass it playing a variety of sports including, basketball, soccer, football, wrestling, athletics, and cricket. Being the captain of his cricket team, taking part in test matches is something Kenneth would have indefinitely done. These sports allowed soldiers to connect and get to know each other. As well as this allowing them so step back from their work and relax. Prisoners were also allowed to send letters; Kenneth took advantage of this writing on three occasions. Despite being away from his family Kenneth stayed optimistic in 1944 writing “keep smiling it’s drawing nearer ([10])” and he was not wrong.

On the 11th of May 1945, the camp was officially liberated by the British, however prisoners had been in control of the camp since the 8th of May. The day of Germany’s surrender. Kenneth returned to the United Kingdom on the 26th of May 1945, where he awaited transportation back to Australia on the B2 Mauretania. On the 3rd of January 1946 Kenneth was officially discharged. To honour his service he was nominated for and received a medal and clasp. The Australian Efficiency Medal, awarded to men who served twelve years, as well as the first clasp to the Efficiency Medal for serving an additional six years.

Apart from working as a cook Kenneth also had a profession in art and was a lover of nature and good music. Practising as a watercolour artist after returned he continued to paint. His artworks were said to be stunning and attracted attention from newspapers. In July 1946 he was able to showcase his work, at own exhibition in Victoria. Years later the Knights family also welcomed a new addition, a daughter, Eilleen Knights. After a life of laughter, perseverance and sharing his creative talents Kenneth Hugh Knights passed away on the 6th of December 1980, aged 71. Buried at Strathalbyn cemetery he will forever be honoured for his service. 20 years later on the 17th of December 2000 his beloved wife Eilleen passed away aged 87.

Throughout Kenneth’s service, mateship and perseverance are extremely prevalent. Traveling far from home many would be tired and dreading fighting, simply wanting to reunite with their families. The soldiers confided in each other creating “interesting and enjoyable” ([11]) times. Finding a sense of mateship. Kenneth shows perseverance throughout journey. From traveling by boat to an unknown country, adapting to a new climate and being around people he’d never met. Kenneth fought many difficult battles, Bardia, Tobruk and Crete. Fostering perseverance, he pushed through tiredness and fatigue to fight. Kenneth’s perseverance shines though in Greece. Like others he was left, forced to fight the aggressive German army, from the 27th of May until the soldier’s final surrender in June. Then being transported to a P.O.W camp. Here his perseverance shines through, surviving mental and physical hardships as well as maintaining hope. Even soldiers at the camp hearing of the Crete experience said it was “proof of the courage and determination of our small and poorly armed forces. ([12])” His journey would have been difficult and tiring, but he kept his chin up and at the end of the war was able to return to see his family without any major injuries. However even prior to the war Kenneth persevered. Rejected from countless art societies he carried on, brick laying, road work, and other manual labour all in the hopes of achieving his goal of being an artist.

It is safe to say Kenneth’s attitudes never let him down. Described as “bubbling over with enthusiasm” ([13]) he was able to make anyone smile and according to many a great cook. Kenneth’s mateship especially shone through with his time at Stalag. His love for cricket allowed him to connect with his peers through weekly matches, creating new bonds. The camp itself was crammed so there was no doubt he got to know many other soldiers. Able to converse with others over the weekly newspaper P.O.W WOW or talk with those who knew what was going on with the war and its progression from their hidden radio. Furthermore his mateship was present in his time in the middle east, serving with the 6th Australian Division before transferring, he was able to meet an immense amount of people from different divisions and battalions. Describing his own as the “healthiest and finest chaps that ever lived.” ([14])

[1] National Archives – Kenneth Knights
[2] Australian War Memorial – 6th Australian Division Calvary Regiment
[3] A Man and His Riches – M.J MacNally (1940)
[4] A Man and His Riches – M.J MacNally (1940)
[5] Australian War Memorial – Battle of Bardia
[6] Australian War Memorial – Battle of Tobruk
[7] New Zealand History – Battle of Crete (2012)
[8] New Zealand History – Battle of Crete (2012)
[9] Ian Brown – Stalag18a (2001)
[10] Rhett Bartlett (2018)
[11] 6th Division Australian Recce Regiment Unit Diary – (Jan 1940)
[12] John Rossiter – P.O.W at Stalag
[13] A Man and His Riches – M.J MacNally (1940)
[14] A Man and His Riches – M.J MacNally (1940)

References:

“2/6th Australian Infantry Battalion.” Www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56049. Accessed 25 May 2023.

“6th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment.” Www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/collection/U54268. Accessed 25 May 2023.

Bartlett, Rhett. “Https://Twitter.com/Rhettrospective/Status/948480188748251136.” Twitter, 3 Jan. 2018, twitter.com/rhettrospective/status/948480188748251136. Accessed 25 May 2023.

“Battles for Tobruk.” Www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/collection/E84833.

Brown, Ian. “Frameset.” Www.stalag18a.org, 6 May 2001, www.stalag18a.org/frameset.html.

“Greece and Crete | Department of Veterans’ Affairs.” Dva.gov.au, 23 Jan. 2020, www.dva.gov.au/recognition/commemorating-all-who-served/memorials/memorials-europe/greece-and-crete.

“KNIGHTS KENNETH : Service Number - SX1265 : Date of Birth - 25 Jun 1909 : Place of Birth - NORFOLK ENGLAND : Place of Enlistment - ADELAIDE SA : Next of Kin - KNIGHTS I.” National Archives of Australia, 1939, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6656653. Accessed 25 May 2023.

MacNally, M. J. “A Man and His Riches.” Mail, 12 Oct. 1940, trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55759592?searchTerm=Kenneth%20knights%20Sx1265. Accessed 25 May 2023.

“Overview - the Battle for Crete | NZHistory, New Zealand History Online.” Nzhistory.govt.nz, 20