Ben Knight

Captain Ben Knight was an officer in 1 PARA under Colonel Spencer Pemberton. Knight was nicknamed "Little Spence" due to his mentorship under Pemberton. (PROSE: The Ambush!)

Biography
In August 1968, Knight was among the men who transported a special rock of alien origin, and his performance there led him to be enlisted by Pemberton for the newly commissioned Special Forces Support Group, created as a joint effort by the Royal Air Force, Royal Marines and Parachute Regiment. (PROSE: Mind of Stone)

The London Event
In February 1969, (PROSE: Fear of the Web) the Special Forces Support Group was called in to deal with evacuation of London, and Knight took part in the fight against the Great Intelligence and its Robot Yeti in the London Underground. Knight developed feelings for scientific advisor Anne Travers, and tried to find ways to talk to her. (TV: The Web of Fear)

Knight crossed paths with River Song while she was trying to recover a valuable painting that was lost. Mistaking her for a civilian, Knight attempted to evacuate her from the city only to be caught up in River's own skirmish with the Yeti and the Intelligence. After the incident, River erased his memories. (AUDIO: The Web of Time)

Knight was left in temporary command when Pemberton was killed, something that left him in shock. Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart would later assume command from him.

He later went with the Second Doctor to the surface to find several electronic components the Doctor required, but Knight was attacked and killed by a Yeti. (TV: The Web of Fear)

Alternate timelines
In an alternative timeline, he survived the Yeti incursion of the Underground, but died two weeks later at the hands of Yeti in Croydon, while protecting Victoria Waterfield. (PROSE: Legacies)

Behind the scenes

 * Originally, Nicholas Courtney was cast to portray Knight; however, David Langton, who was to play Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart, gave up the role to accept another offer of work. Director Douglas Camfield recast Ralph Watson in the role of Captain Knight and gave the Colonel's part to Courtney.
 * His full name was established in The Ambush!.