McKnight, George

Ex-Private

No. 278 Royal Irish Regiment

Died of disease on Tuesday 6 October 1925 (aged 47)

Buried:

Newtownards (Movilla) Cemetery, Co Down

Commemorated:

Newtownards and District War Memorial

BIOGRAPHY

In some records his surname is spelt McNeight.

The name George McKnight is listed on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the booklet produced for the Unveiling and Dedication Ceremony held on Saturday 26 May 1934 he is described as a Private in the Royal Irish Regiment.  The organising committee of the day decided to include the names of ex-servicemen who died up to that date from what they considered to be war related causes, whether as a result of wounds or disease.

During the First World War Private George McKnight (No. 278) served with the Royal Irish Regiment and he was discharged on 24 July 1919 to Class Z Reserve (returned to civilian life but with an obligation to return to service if called upon).

In civilian life George McKnight worked as a shoemaker and he was 47 when he died at 36 Elizabeth Street, Belfast as a result of ‘perforation of stomach due to gastric ulcer’.  An inquest was held on 9 October 1925.

George McKnight was born on 11 April 1878 in East Street, Newtownards and he was a son of James and Rose Ann McKnight (nee Mulholland, sometimes Mahallom) who were married on 14 July 1861 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s).

The McKnight family lived at 105 East Street, Newtownards.

James McKnight worked as a cotton spinner and weaver and he and Rose Ann had ten children including:

George (born 28 March 1865 in Windmill Row, Newtownards; died 3 May 1867 aged 2)

James (born 20 December 1866 in Windmill Row, Newtownards)

John (born 23 November 1868 in Windmill Row, Newtownards)

Catherine (born 6 November 1870 in Windmill Row, Newtownards; registered blind, died 27 January 1941)

Hannah (born 6 July 1872 in Windmill Row, Newtownards)

Samuel (born 17 July 1874 in East Street, Newtownards)

George (born 11 April 1878 in East Street, Newtownards)

Four of their children died in infancy:

In 1911 Hannah McKnight was working as a general servant for farmers John and Sarah Moore in the townland of Tullynagardy, Newtownards.

In 1911 Samuel McKnight was working as a calico printer and he, his wife Minnie (nee Murphy) and their daughter Kathleen were living at 63 Church Street, Newtownards.  They were married on 30 September 1897 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s).