Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Murray: Coy. Sergeant Major 28.9.1901 for Onverwacht 4.1.1902 Distinguished Conduct Medal London Gazette 29.7.1902, Lieutenant 7ACH.
Fogg: Sergeant Major KNIVETT & KNYVETT Distinguished Conduct Medal for coolness and gallantry in action at Onverwacht.
Source:# 417 NZDF file 4330 5th Qld. Bushrangers.
B5207: 1QMI & 7ACH.
B5172: next of kin in S. Brisbane Qld.
URL4: Aust. Boer War Memorial database record.
URL5: CSM, Mentioned in Despatches for gallantry in action at Onverwacht 4.1.1902.
URL6: Several dreary weeks of trekking on the Amersfont road followed before the column reached Onverwacht, where a big fight was made with 900 Boers. The casualties in PLUMER's column in this engagement were nineteen killed, and thirty-seven wounded. Major VALENTINE, commanding the corps, was among the slain, and Captain JOHNSON of the Scottish Imperial Yeomanry, while several Queenslanders also fell, including Sergeants BERRY and POWER (the latter being mentioned in despatches for coolness and daring in action) and SHANNON, privates CHARDON, SALT, MACFARLANE and LILLEY, while Captain CARTER and Lieutenant HIGGINSON were severely wounded. It was in this engagement that Major TOLL displayed that special bravery that caused his name to be mentioned in the London "Gazette" for bravery and coolness in leadership. Company-Sergeant KNYVETT and Reg.-Sergeant Major PRICE being also mentioned for coolness. Major TOLL was himself too modest to tell our representative much of his own doings, but the other officers speak in the highest terms of his leadership. "Don't forget," said one of them, "to say that we all call TOLL 'The Fighting Major.'"
URL7: London, April 26 [1902]. The following colonial officers have been brought under the favourable notice of Lord KITCHENER for conspicuous good service rendered towards the end of 1901 and the early portion of the present year. Second New South Wales Contingent - Captain F LYDIARD and Lieut. C DICEY. Third New South Wales Contingent - Lieut. H FORTESCUE. West Australian Fifth Contingent - Captain AJ BROWN. West Australian Sixth Contingent - Lieut. SR CLIFTON and Lieut. PJ DALY. Fifth Queensland Contingent - Major F OLD, Sergt.-Major F KUYVETT and Sergt. J POWER. The last-named officer was killed. Sixth Queensland Contingent - Lieut. CR VAUGHAN. ... Lord KITCHENER mentions in recent despatches the resolute and capable way in which Major TOLL led his South Australian Bushmen on four occasions; Sergeant-Major WASSON of the Second New South Wales Contingent for his dash in holding a kopje with four men in order to cover the retirement of the wounded ...
URL8: SERGEANTS' WELCOME HOME. There was a time of unalloyed pleasure at the Sergeants' Institute, Treasury Chambers, on Saturday evening last [3.5.1902], when the members assembled in strong force to extend a welcome-home to their fellow non- commissioned officers of the Fifth Queensland Imperial Bushmen. Quartermaster Sergeant EDE occupied the Chair in the unavoidable absence of the Garrison Sergeant-major CHALMERS, and the visitors of the Fifth Contingent present included Lieutenant LOYNES, Sergeant-major PRICE (warrant officer), Sergeant-major BYRNES, Quartermaster-sergeant GOODE, Sergeant majors WILLIAMS, KNYVETT, BOWMAN and Sergeants NAYLOR, COLLINS, LEETCH, CB and AB CORBETT, LACEY, AYSCOUGH, FERGUSON, MARSH, HINTON and ARMSTRONG. ... Lieutenant LOYNES was also asked for a speech. He said that as an old NCO of Queensland, it gave him extreme pleasure to be there, particularly as it gave opportunity to say a few words about Sergeant-majors PRICE and KNYVETT. On 4th January, at Onverwacht, Sergeant Major PRICE had risked his own life to return to within about 100 yards of the enemy and bring him (Lieutenant LOYNES) a horse, at a time when he was practically done for, and so enabled him to escape with his life. No better man than PRICE had been in South Africa, and during the time of his service there, he believed that he had been with every advance guard ever sent out from his regiment. He, Lieutenant LOYNES, had been honoured by being placed in command of the Cyclist Corps, after their machines gave out, and they had been coverted into a mounted corps, and KNYVETT had been his company Sergeant-major. KNYVETT had always proved the right man in a tight place, and he was glad to see that both PRICE and KNYVETT had been recognised by General KITCHENER. Lieutenant LOYNES generally eulogised the Cyclist Corps for their work, and he said further that he had heard General KITCHENER say that there were no men in the whole of the British Army upon whom he depended more than upon the NCOs.
URL9: [at the QVR Reception 2.5.1902] little nuggetty Sergeant-major KNYVETT had trouble in calmly accepting congratulations from his superiors on the floor and in keeping up at same time signals to his friends in the gallery.
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