Harold Aveling Knight
Commander Harold Aveling Knight, D.S.O., R.N. (2 April, 1886 – 5 January, 1956) served in the Royal Navy.
Life & Career
Born in Winkfield, the son of F. T. Knight, gentleman.
Appointed to Lancaster on 4 February, 1907, Knight received the wonderfully tepid evaluation from Captain Heath: "no special defects."
He remained in her until being appointed to Canopus on 5 August, 1908, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1908.
Invalided from Dwarf on 10 July 1912 after a year and a half in her. He would spend much of 1912 and 1913 in the hospital, including for recurrent malaria and for appendicitis.
Knight was appointed to the battleship Africa on 15 October 1912 and served in her until being superseded on 9 January, 1916.
Knight commanded the sweeping sloop Amaryllis from January 1916 until some time in 1918, being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 30 June, 1916.
Knight served as executive officer in the light cruiser H.M.S. Dragon under Captains Marten and Hawke-Genn from 30 April, 1919 until being superseded on 15 April 1921. He struck Marten as lacking in the force of personality required to bring the ship into top form, but Hawke-Genn was effusive, strongly recommending Knight for "immediate promotion" in June 1921.
Knight received his promotion to the rank of Commander dated 31 December, 1922.
After two years in command of the old dreadnought Colossus, which was by now a Boy's Training Ship, Knight was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 13 October, 1926.
World War II
Naval Consular Shipping Adviser, Colon, August 1939 to mid November 1940, then Chief Consular Shipping Adviser at Bermuda until 24 August, 1943.
See Also
Bibliography
| Naval Appointments | ||
| Preceded by ? |
Captain of H.M.S. Amaryllis 22 Jan, 1916[1] – Oct, 1918 |
Succeeded by Thomas M. Potts |
| Preceded by Francis C. Platt |
Captain of H.M.S. Wallflower 15 Apr, 1921 – 28 Sep, 1921 |
Succeeded by Colin S. Inglis |
| Preceded by Hugh H. Rogers |
Captain of H.M.S. Colossus 15 Jul, 1924[2] – 15 Jul, 1926 |
Succeeded by George Wilson |
Footnotes
