Name
Horace Chamberlain King
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/04/1918
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
28th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
M C
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DOULLENS COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION NO.1
VI. A. 31.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Digswell House Australian Hospital Memorial, St John's Church, Digswell
Pre War
Horace Chamberlain King was born in Perth, Western Australia, the son of Thomas O'Glesby King and Charlotte King of Queen's Street, Claremont, Western Australia.
He went to Claremont Government School and worked as a salesman.
Wartime Service
He had served in the Naval Reserve in North Fremantle, but enlisted on 8 March 1915 in Perth as a Corporal with the 28th Battalion, 'C' Company. His unit embarked from Freemantle on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 29 June 1915. He saw service in Egypt, Gallipoli and the Western Front. He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant on 14 March 1916, then to Lieutenant 21 August 1916 and finally to Captain on 12 March 1917.
He was twice mentioned in despatches and received the Military Cross when fighting at Pozieres.
"For conspicuous gallantry in action. When his senior officers had become casualties, he took command and led his company with great coolness and skill under very heavy fire. On another occasion he led a party of about twenty five against the enemy, took twenty seven prisoners, and, charging forward, entered the next enemy trench and captured it with 100 prisoners." Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 184, Date: 14 December 1916.
He was wounded in action on 4 October 1917 with a gun shot wound to his right arm and was sent to England for treatment. Having recovered he was discharged and rejoined his battalion in the field on 24 February 1918. He was wounded a second time on 7 April 1918 with a gun shot/shell wound to his neck and shoulder and admitted to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital where he died of his wounds the same day.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
