Great War Memorial - Knockholt, Kent, UK
N 51° 18.617 E 000° 06.285
31U E 298218 N 5688310
This Great War memorial, to remember the men of Knockholt that dies in the 1914-1918 war, is located in the grounds of St Katharine's church in Knockholt. It is to the south of the church and adjacent Main Road that runs through the village.
Waymark Code: WMJ5VN
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/29/2013
Views: 1
The memorial is made from Portland stone with the relief, on the front of the
column, made from bronze. It is listed in the IWN War Memorials Archive as
Reference
12759.
The inscription, on the front of the memorial, reads:
To the Glory of God
In loving and ever grateful
remembrance of the
men of Knockholt
who fought and died
for their King and Country
in the Great War
1914 - 1918
The left side of the column is inscribed with the names of those who died in
the Great War and the right side is inscribed with the names of those that died
in the Second World War.
Included on the Great War list is Alexander Malins Lafone who received the VC
in Palestine.
The Kent
Fallen website lists all of those that fell and gives some background
about them. It also details how Major Lafone came about his Victoria Cross:
On 27th October 1917 at Beersheba, Palestine, for most
conspicuous bravery, leadership and self-sacrifice, Major Lafone, for more
than seven hours, held a position against vastly superior forces. Visibility
was poor, owing to the shelling from the enemy. He beat off Cavalry charges,
by the enemy, causing the many casualties. One enemy charge left 15
casualties within 20 yards of his trench. One man who had managed to reach
the trench was bayoneted by Major Lafone. All of his men became casualties
except three. The trench was so full of wounded that it became difficult to
move about and use weapons.
Major Lafone ordered those who could walk to move to a
trench, slightly to the rear. They continued to maintain an heroic
resistance. When eventually they became surrounded, he stepped into the open
and continued to fight until he was mortally wounded, finally he collapsed.
His courage and cheerfulness set a splendid example to the men which enabled
them to hold the position as ordered.
An extract from The London Gazette dated 18 December
1917, records the following:
"For most conspicuous bravery, leadership, and
self-sacrifice when holding a position for over seven hours against vastly
superior enemy forces. All this time the enemy were shelling his position
heavily, making it very difficult to see. In one attack, when the enemy
cavalry charged his flank, he drove them back with heavy losses. In another
charge they left fifteen casualties within twenty yards of his trench, one
man, who reached the trench, being bayoneted by Major Lafone himself. When
all his men, with the exception of three, had been hit and the trench which
he was holding was so full of wounded that it was difficult to move and
fire, he ordered those who could walk to move to a trench slightly in the
rear, and from his own position maintained a most heroic resistance. When
finally surrounded and charged by the enemy, he stepped into the open and
continued to fight until he was mortally wounded and fell unconscious. His
cheerfulness and courage were a splendid inspiration to his men, and by his
leadership and devotion he was enabled to maintain his position, which he
had been ordered to hold at all costs."
Within the church is a brass plaque also dedicated to those that lost their
lives in the Great War. This is also listed at the IWM War Memorials Archive as
number
48742.
The Lych Gate is also dedicated to those that lost their lives in the Second
World War. Listed at the IWM War Memorials Archive as number
48743.