James Bell Knight (3 January 1918 – 11 October 1943) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong and Carlton in the VFL.
| Jim Knight | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | James Bell Knight | ||
| Date of birth | 3 January 1918 | ||
| Place of birth | Geelong, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 11 October 1943 (aged 25) | ||
| Place of death | off Goodenough Island, Territory of New Guinea | ||
| Original team(s) | Presbyterian Guild | ||
| Height | 173 cm (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Weight | 73 kg (161 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1939–1941 | Geelong | 42 (54) | |
| 1942–1943 | Carlton | 15 (7) | |
| Total | 57 (61) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1943. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family
editJames Bell Knight, the son of Archie Cecil Clarence Knight (1896–1965), and Margaret May Knight (1892–1960), née Paterson, was born on 3 January 1918.
Football
editGeelong
editKnight was Geelong's best and fairest player in 1941.
Carlton
editHe joined Carlton in 1942 after Geelong withdrew from the competition due to the war and spent two seasons with the club.[1]
Military service
editWhile playing at Carlton he received military training; and, in 1943, he joined the RAAF, and served in Papua New Guinea, fighting against the Japanese.
He was killed on 11 October 1943 when the bombs aboard his Douglas Boston bomber (A28-26) exploded after the aircraft crashed during take-off from Goodenough Island in Papua New Guinea. The other two crew members survived the accident.[2][3][4]
Remembered
editThe runner up in the Geelong Best and Fairest now wins the Jim Knight Memorial Trophy.
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ Sportsmen's Honor Roll, The Weekly Times, (Wednesday, 20 October 1943), p. 20.
- ^ Deaths: On Active Service, The Argus, (Friday, 15 October 1943), p. 2.
- ^ Australian Roll of Honor, The Age, (Tuesday, 26 October 1943), p. 4; R.A.A. F. Casualties: Australia and Australian Territories: Killed Aircraft Accident, The Argus, (Monday, 1 November 1943), p. 5.
- ^ De Bolfo, Tony, "The Great Fallen: Jim Knight", carltonfc.com, 21 April 2015.
References
editExternal links
edit- Jim Knight's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Blueseum profile
- RAAF Inter-services premiership team 1942, Boyles Football photos.
- 1941 VFL Round Two: Geelong v St Kilda – First Game at Kardinia Park, Boyles Football photos.
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