Date of Birth
Unknown
College
Borough Road College
Job(s)
Tinsley Mixed C.S., Sheffield; Assistant Master at Ellesmere Road Council School, Sheffield
Service number
12/709
WW1 rank
Private
York and Lancaster Regiment, 12th Battalion
Theatre of war
Europe
Date of death
1 July 1917
Buried/memorial
Queen’s Cemetery, Puisieux (Grave/Memorial reference: C 16)
Biography
Private James Knighton was the son of James and Elizabeth Ann Knighton, and was a native of Sheffield. He studied at Borough Road College for 2 years, where he was the cricket team treasurer 1911-12, played rugby, was a prefect, and graduated the college with a BA. After leaving he became Assistant Master at Ellesmere Road Council School in Sheffield. After the war started he joined the 12th Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment on the 1 September 1914. Knighton was killed on the first day of the battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, aged 24.
Sources
Entry on p.86 [Roll of Honour page], Mentioned on Framed Borough Road College Roll of Honour, 1911-12 Club Officers Photo [BRCCO 005], BFSS/2/9/3/6 [BRCPF006], BRCRU007, BRCIC005, BRCSYG033, 1913 Annual reports, Secondary source information provided by Douglas Craik (taken from Commonwealth War Graves Commission).