21 September 2018

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

Town Mayor Rex Whittaker and his consort Miss Ali Hinton were guests at the Haywards Heath unveiling of the Paving Stone for Victoria Cross recipient Sgt George Knight, who was born in Haywards Heath and died towards the end of the first world war on 2 September 1918.

The event was marked by the attendance of the High Sheriff, representatives of the Canadian Commission and the Calgary Highlanders who are the perpetuators of the 10th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, of which Sgt Knight was a member.  Sgt Knight was born in Haywards Heath and emigrated to Canada before the outbreak of war.

This event drew parallels to the ceremony East Grinstead held back in 2014 when we unveiled our stone in honour of Pte Sidney Godley VC. Mid Sussex Towns being the birthplace of the first and almost the last recipients of Victoria Cross for bravery during WW1, seems to be quite unique.