Career
Knights was commissioned from cadet into the York and Lancaster Regiment as a temporary second lieutenant (on probation) on 7 July 1916. His citation read:
Temporary Second Lieutenant Sidney Arthur William Knights, York and Lancaster Regiment. "Foreign conspicuous gallantry in action.
During a raid on the enemy"s trenches he showed marked courage and determination in leading his mentor
He set a splendid example throughout."
He was promoted to lieutenant on 7 January 1918, and soon moved to the Royal Flying Corps, being appointed a flying officer (observer) and transferred to the Reconstruction Finance Corporation General List on 16 March 1918, with seniority backdated to 27 January. Knights was posted to Number.
62 Squadron on 10 March 1918, and served as observer/gunner with pilot George Everard Gibbons, flying a Bristol F.2b two-seater fighter. Between 12 March and 28 May they accounted for eight enemy aircraft, including three on 3 May and two on 28 May.
Knights was hospitalized on 10 July 1918, and saw no further successes.
Knights left the Royal Air Force post-war, being transferred to the unemployed list on 14 March 1919.
