Name
Nathaniel Walter Ryder King
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/02/1915
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
16th (The Queen’s) Lancers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES TOWN CEMETERY
G. 3.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Thundridge, War Memorial Not on the Ware memorials
Pre War
Nathaniel was born on the 24th April 1887, in Hampstead, London, the eldest of five children. Son of Henry James King and Maud Harriet King - both of whom were born in America. His father was a Diamond Merchant. Nathaniel was Baptised on the 28th April 1894, with his brother and three sisters in the Parish of St Stephen’s, Paddington, London.
The 1891 census shows Nathaniel aged 3 living with his parents, brother Herbert and sister Gladys, at Manathan House, Palace Court, Paddington, London. In 1901 Nathaniel was 13 and a pupil at Eton College, Eton, Buckinghamshire, leaving in 1903.
He joined the Royal Military Collage as a Gentleman Cadet. An entry in The London Gazette for 16th October 1906, “Gentleman Cadet Nathaniel Walter Ryder King, from the Royal Military Collage, To Second Lieutenant, Date 17th October 1906”.
The Harts Annual Army List shows him as a Second Lieutenant in the 16th (The Queens) Lancers, 17th October 1906, and as a Lieutenant in the 16th (The Queens) Lancers, 3rd July 1907.
The 1911 census records Nathaniel aged 23 living at Graham House, Newmarket, Cambridgeshire, his occupation is given as a Retired Army Officer. His father bought Poles Manor house and lands in the parish of Thundridge in 1914 and it is probably from there that Nathaniel joined up.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of War Nathaniel re-enlisted into his Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He landed in France on the 15th September 1914.
Nathaniel was killed on the 21st February 1915, when a German 100 kilogram mine was exploded, North of Klein Zillibeke; 5 Officers and 12 OR killed 29 Wounded and 11 missing.
Additional Information
Father applied for 1914 star on behalf of his son. His personal inscription on the headstone reads: “Son of the late Mr & Mrs H. J. King, of Poles, Ware, Herts”. The inscription reads “late” but his parents were still alive in 1915, his father died in 192
Acknowledgments
Jos Mottershead, Stuart Osborne, Pat Bird, Maurice Charge
