Roll of Honour 2023

P AGE 204

W ORLD W AR II

S T . E DWARD ’ S S CHOOL , O XFORD R OLL OF H ONOUR

Name KENWARD ERNEST KNOX (Pilot Officer)

Lef SES 1937

Roll Number 2809 Died 05:07:1941

Set / House B

Arrive SES 1933

Where RENINGHELST, BELGIUM Serving with 54 SQN FIGHTER CMD, R.A.F.V.R.

Age 23

Buried Reninghelst Churchyard Extension, Belgium Remembered The St. Edward’s School WW2 Memorial

Born 1918 in Sidcup, Kent, the younger of two SES brothers. On leaving he was a House Prefect, a member of Choir, School Play, 2nd XI Cricket, 2nd Rugby Football XV, the Athletics team and was in the Science VIth Form. After leaving school he worked for Handley Page from 1937-40. ‘He brought determination and enthusiasm to all he did, but if characteristics can be singled out, this of staunchness and loyalty appear, in recollection to predominate’ (Chronicle). In 1940 he joined the R.A.F.V.R., Fighter Command and by 1941 had joined 54 Squadron flying Spitfires as a Pilot Officer. Fully involved in the Battle of Britain, his squadron had now been employed escorting bomber missions over Belgium and Northern France. He was reported as ‘missing’ over Belgium in 1942 later confirmed as killed in action and buried in Belgium. He had been injured in June in aerial combat but had managed to land his Spitfire safety, but a month later he was hit again in aerial combat over Reninghelst, Belgium, seen to bail out, but found dead on the ground.