After training, Knight was appointed as Gunnery Officer, at the rank of lieutenant, on the battleship HMS Prince of Wales. In 1941, the ship received orders to pursue the German battleship Bismarck and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen. In the ensuing battle, Knight witnessed the sinking of HMS Hood. The Bismarck then attacked HMS Prince of Wales. A shell from Bismarck passed through the bridge of Prince of Wales and either did not explode or exploded outside the ship, but fragments from the damaged bridge structure hit Knight in the face, blinding him. Knight totally lost one eye, and the other was badly damaged.