Language selection


Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Lidstone McKnight

In memory of:

Flying Officer William Lidstone McKnight

January 12, 1941

Military Service


Service Number:

41937

Age:

23

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Air Force

Division:

242 Sqdn.

Citation(s):

Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Bar

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 614 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Surrey, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Panel 30.

Location:

During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.

The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:

IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE

In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Charlottetown PEI newspaper The Guardian. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Charlottetown PEI newspaper The Guardian. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Charlottetown PEI newspaper The Guardian. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Charlottetown PEI newspaper The Guardian. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star October 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star January 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star February 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram June 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram July 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram October 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram December 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram January 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram February 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram August 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram August 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Montreal Star. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of William McNight– Submitted for the project: Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of William McNight– Submitted for the project: Operation Picture Me
  • Group Photo– Battle-hardened pilots of No.242 (Canadian) Fighter Squadron pose in front of the Commanding Officer's Hawker Hurricane Mk.I at RAF Station Duxford. (L- R) D.W. Crowley-Milling (RAF), P/O HUGH NORMAN TAMBLYN from Yorkton, Saskatchewan-killed in action 3 April 1941, F/L Stan Turner from Toronto, Ontario, P/O Norman Neil Campbell from St.Thomas, Ontario-killed in action 17 October 1940. P/O William 'Willie' Lidstone McKnight from Edmonton, Alberta-killed in action 12 January 1941, S/L D.R.S 'Douglas' Bader-Commanding Officer of No. 242 (Canadian) Fighter Squadron, F/L G.E. Ball (RAF)-killed in action after Battle of Britain, P/O M.G. Homer (RAF)-killed in action 27 September 1940, P/O M.K. Brown of Kincardine, Ontario - killed in flying accident on 21 February, 1941.

Submitted for the project: Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Calgary Herald. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Edmonton Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

Date modified: