Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Knight, a bricklayer, born 1838 in Parliament Street, Leicester and his wife Louisa (Lucy) Knight (nee Willis, married in the 4th quarter of 1913 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district), born 1851 in Rothwell, Northamptonshire. Capsul Willis was born in the 1st quarter of 1889 at 94, Queen Street, Hull, Yorkshire, his half-blood brother was George Knight, a horse wagoner, born in the 4th quarter of 1874 in Enderby, Leicestershire and his brother was Leomeashure Willis, born in the 2nd quarter of 1890 in West Street, Enderby, in April 1891 the family home was at Conway Cottages, West Street, Enderby. In March 1901 Capsul was residing in the family home at West Street, Enderby, together with his father, Thomas Knight, a firewood dealer and brother Leomeashure Willis together with Louisa Willis, his mother, Louisa Willis, shown as a servant and housekeeper born 1853 in Rothwell. In April 1911 Capsul was employed as a quarry labourer and was residing in the family home at West Street, Enderby, together with his father, Thomas Knight, a general labourer, his mother Louisa Knight and brother Leomeashure Knight, a stone dresser. Capsul married Eva May Gilliver on the 23rd September 1916 in the Blaby, Leicestershire district, they had two sons, Derek Willis Knight, born 4th August 1917 and Herbert Willis Knight born 1st September 1919, both children were born in Enderby, they resided in Chapel Street, Enderby.
FAMILY NOTE: The 1891, 1901 and 1911 census’s that cover Capsul’s personal history and family relationships, reveal that Capsul’s mother had been unmarried, being variously referred to as Willis and Knight and additionally being referred to as married and also a servant and housekeeper. Official records record her marriage to Thomas Knight in the latter part of 1913. This of course makes the position of Capsul and his relationship to Thomas Knight and Louisa (Lucy) Willis or Knight somewhat obscure and thus it remains open to conjecture what the actual position regarding the relationship really is.
Capsul attested into the Army on a Record of Service Paper (For men deemed to be enlisted in H.M. Regular Forces for General Service with the Colours or in the Reserve for the period of the War, under the provisions of the Military Service Act, 1916.) on the 8th December 1916 in Leicester. He gave his full address as Mill Hill, Enderby, Leicestershire, his age as 28 years and 210 days, his trade or calling as rubber hand and he confirmed that he was married. He gave his wife, Eva May Knight of Mill Hill, Enderby as his next of kin. His medical examination took place on the 26th August 1916 at Glen Parva Barracks, Nr. Leicester where he gave his place of birth as Hull, Yorkshire and declared his age as 28 years and 210 days, it recorded that he was 5-foot 8½ inches in height, weighed 117 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 33 and 35 inches. His record of service began when he joined No.4 Depot of the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner, service number 133400 on the 8/12/16. Posted to the 21st Company, Royal Garrison Artillery on the 17/1/17. Admitted to the Auxiliary Hospital at Kinghorn suffering from pleurisy on the 3/2/17. Admitted to the 2nd Scottish General Hospital suffering from constipation and colic, on the 5/2/17. Discharged from hospital on the 10/2/17. Admitted to the Auxiliary Hospital at Kinghorn suffering from bronchitis and asthma, on the 12/2/17. Discharged from hospital on the 3/3/17. Posted to 392 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery on the 22/4/17. Admitted to the Cambridge Hospital at Aldershot suffering from internal derangement of left knee, on the 11/5/17. Posted to the Siege School, Aldershot on the 9/6/17. Discharged from Hospital on the 5/10/17. Discharged under Paragraph 392 XVI, King’s Regulations on the 5/10/17.
A summary of his service records: Home Service, 8/12/16 – 5/10/17, 302 days. Capsul did not serve in any theatre of war on active service.
The Proceedings on Discharge that took place in Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot on the 21st July 1917, recorded the following information.
Unit: R.G.A.
Regimental No: 133400.
Rank: Gunner.
Name: Knight, C. W.
Age last birthday: 30.
Enlisted on: 7-12-16 at Wigston Nr. Leicester.
Former Trade or Occupation: Rubber hand.
Disability: Internal derangement of left knee.
Date of origin of disability: 3 -4 years ago.
Place of origin of disability: Nr. Leicester.
Medical History: Patient states his left knee was injured between 3 to 4 years ago after having a heavy weight fall on his knee. Has always been lame since and cannot straighten knee and suffers from recurrent synovitis. Does not respond to treatment and has got much worse since joining the army.
The Certificate of Official Discharge was signed in Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot on the 13th September 1917.