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Robert William Knights CB CBE (1912 - 1975)

MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB CBE
Born in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australiamap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 1937 in Toorak, Victoria, Australiamap
[children unknown]
Died at age 63 in Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory, Australiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 18 Jun 2018
This page has been accessed 422 times.

Biography

Notables Project
Robert Knights CB CBE is Notable.

Major General Robert William Knights CB CBE was born on 24th June 1912 at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. He was the son of William Knights, who was on the military staff at the Royal Military College (RMC), Duntroon from July 1911. Robert entered Royal Military College as a staff cadet in 1929 and graduated on 13th December 1932, upon which he was commissioned into the Australian Army.

He married Betty Davis in Toorak, Victoria on 18th December 1937.[1]

Robert Knights CB CBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force 1939-1945
2/17th Aust. Infantry Battalion
When the Second World War broke he immediately, on 26th October 1939, transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force for overseas service.[2] He was an officer of the 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion, 9th Division. The battalion saw action at Tobruk, El Alamein, Lae, Finschhafen and Brunei.[3]
Roll of Honor
MAJ GEN Robert Knights CB CBE was wounded in action at Tobruk during the Second World War.

Knights was wounded by a booby trap near Tobruk on the night of 18th January 1941 while undertaking reconnaissance prior to the capture of the port a few days later.

Robert Knights CB CBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army 1946-1969
throughout the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation, and Vietnam War

He served throughout the Korean War, Malayan Emergency, Indonesian Confrontation, and Vietnam War.[4] In the New Year's Honours List 1953 he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)[5] and upgraded to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1960.[6] The same year he returned to Duntroon as Commandant of RMC, a role he filled until 1962. He was promoted to Major General and was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[7]

Knights retired from the army on 24th June 1969, his 57th birthday.

He was living in Empire Circuit, Yarralumla, Canberra, when he passed away on 4th August 1975.

Sources

  1. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #13913/1937
  2. ↑ Australian_War_Memorial_nominal_roll:_VX78_Robert_Knights; accessed 19 Jun 2018
  3. ↑ Australian_War_Memorial_unit_record:_2/17th_Australian_Infantry_Battalion; accessed 19 Jun 2018
  4. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: 376 Robert Knights; accessed 19 Jun 2018
  5. ↑ Australian Honours: Officer of the Order of the British Empire; accessed 12 May 2019
  6. ↑ Australian Honours: Commander of the Order of the British Empire; accessed 12 May 2019
  7. ↑ Australian Honours: Companion of the Order of the Bath; accessed 12 May 2019




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Rejected matches › William G. Knight

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Categories: Royal Military College, Duntroon, Australian Capital Territory | 2nd 17th Infantry Battalion, Australian Army, World War II | Companions of the Order of the Bath | Commanders of the Order of the British Empire | Australian Army Generals | Australian Army Generals, Vietnam War | Australia, Notables in the Military | Notables | Wounded in Action, Australia, World War II