SOUTHAMPTON’S old seafarers were used to looking after passengers from all over the world as they voyaged across the oceans but one guest on board the liner, Edinburgh Castle, was more demanding than most and a real high flyer.

James Steyn was the unlikely sounding name of a wild Martial Hawk eagle which had been captured in the African wilderness by the eccentric explorer, occasional actor, author, photographer, lecturer and all round colourful character, Captain Charles Knight, known to everyone as “Chas”.

So when Captain Chas walked down the gangway on to the Southampton dockside, more than 80 years ago in 1934, with James the eagle on his arm he caused quite a flap.

There to meet him was a reporter from the Daily Echo who was sure the Captain would only be too pleased to oblige the journalist with a fascinating interview – and Charles Knight certainly didn’t let him down.

“James did very well during the journey from South Africa, taking as nourishment one rabbit a day,” said the Captain.

“I travelled out to Africa to film James emerging from an egg, as a tiny fluffy ball.” It turned out that for some years Chas had cherished the idea of being able to film this rare bird.

To his delight he received a telegram earlier in the year informing him that a Martial Hawk had laid an egg.

Without wasting any time, the Captain travelled to Southampton and set sail for Cape Town.

He was then forced to travel a further 1,000 miles up country after he arrived.

He had covered a total distance of 14,000 miles to produce a film which lasted just a few short minutes.

He caught and tamed the eagle after the bird’s mother was shot and killed, before bringing it back to the UK on Edinburgh Castle.

As an occasional actor, he most notably played a character not dissimilar to his own, the eccentric Captain Barnstable in Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s romantic film, “I Know Where I’m Going” in 1945.

Also appearing in the film was his golden eagle, Mr Ramshaw, who was almost as well known as his master.

They travelled extensively together, notably to the United States and Canada, crossing the Atlantic, often to and from Southampton, frequently.

“There can never be another Mr. Ramshaw,” said Colonel Chas. “What a personality, what poise, what dignity! And how tremendously alive he is!

“Nothing seems to escape his crystal-clear eyes or – for that matter – his keen ears. I have only to peep round the door at him, and, at once, that sleek head and those searching eyes will be turned expectantly in my direction.”

When war broke in 1914, Chas was in France within the month with the Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. He was a crack shot and was soon selected as a sniper – "Sniper Knight" remained his nickname for many years.

Even when hidden in the ruins of an old barn on sniping duty, he was still conscious of the wildlife and even wrote an article for Country Life called Wildlife In The Trenches, which was published in 1915 accompanied by his own photographs.

He went “over the top” on more than one occasion and saw action at Ypres, Messines Ridge and the Somme, and was awarded the Military Cross.

He was commissioned and, after being gassed, went to the USA in 1917 as a captain in the 1st Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company, in charge of a demonstration drill team.

Chas Knight died in Kenya on May 19, 1957.

In his obituary, published three days later, The Times wrote of his relationship with Mr Ramshaw: “There will be many who will remember the pair as they appeared in many a school hall and lecture gallery, the powerful figure of Knight, with his drawl and his breezy humour, and Ramshaw, quiet if not quelled, perched upon his wrist, truly a splendid beast.”