Horace Chamberlain KING MC, MID

KING, Horace Chamberlain

Service Number: 461
Enlisted: 4 March 1915, Perth, Western Australia
Last Rank: Captain
Last Unit: 28th Infantry Battalion
Born: Guildford, Western Australia, 1896
Home Town: Claremont, Western Australia
Schooling: Claremont Public School, Western Australia
Occupation: Salesman/Warehouseman
Died: Died of wounds, France, 7 April 1918
Cemetery: Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.1
Plot 6, Row A 31
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Claremont St. Aidan's Memorial Window, West Leederville Town Hall HB2
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World War 1 Service

4 Mar 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 461, Perth, Western Australia
29 Jun 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 461, 28th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: ''
29 Jun 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Corporal, 461, 28th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ascanius, Fremantle
4 Sep 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 461, 28th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
14 Mar 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion
26 Jul 1916: Honoured Military Cross, Battle for Pozières
21 Aug 1916: Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 28th Infantry Battalion
12 Mar 1917: Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 28th Infantry Battalion
4 Oct 1917: Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, 28th Infantry Battalion, Broodseinde Ridge, GSW (arm)
7 Apr 1918: Involvement Captain, 28th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 28 Battalion awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1918-04-07
7 Apr 1918: Wounded AIF WW1, Captain, 28th Infantry Battalion, German Spring Offensive 1918, 2nd occasion - GSW (neck and shoulder)

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Biography contributed by Sue Grant

King disembarked in Egypt with the 28th Battalion. He trained for 2 months in Egypt. The 28th Battalion entrained for Alexandria, joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) and embarked per ‘Ivernia’ for Gallipoli 4.9.1915. Following the evacuation from Gallipoli, King was promoted to Temp/ Company Sergeant Major 15.12.1915. He joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 14.3.1916. He embarked for France 16.3.1916 and disembarked with the 28th Battalion at Marseilles 21.3.1916. He marched out to the Somme and was promoted to Lieutenant 21.8.1916. The 28th had their first frontline engagement at Pozieres between 28th July and 6th August. He was awarded a Military Cross for his service during the Battle of Pozieres 2.9.1916. He was admitted to hospital with a debility and rejoined his Unit 25.1.1917. King was promoted to Captain 12.3.1917. He performed duties as Adjunct to Captain McLean of the 7th Training Battalion 24.7.1917.

King rejoined his Unit 30.8.1917 and fought at Broodseinde Ridge. He was wounded in action (1st time) 4.10.1917 with a gunshot wound to his arm. King was admitted to the 17th Casualty Clearing Station, then to No 1 Hospital at Le Treport, before being invalided to England with a fractured right humorous 9.11.1917. On discharge from hospital he proceeded overseas via Southampton 16.2.1918. The 28th Bn were fighting near Dernacourt in April 1918. King was wounded a 2nd time 7.4.1918 with GSW (Shellfire) to his neck and shoulder at Baisieux in France.  He was at that time, standing at the entry of the Chateau of the 28th Bn HQ at Baisieux. He was transferred to the 13th Field Ambulance Casualty Clearing Station Hospital and died of wounds whilst being transferred to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital 7.4.1918. He was buried with full Military Honours at Doullens Communal Cemetery, Extension 1, Plot 6, Row A 31, Doullens, Picardie, France.

Awards and Medals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
King was mentioned in Dispatches 28.12.1917 and awarded a Military Cross 26.9.1916

Citation for Military Cross;

"For conspicuous gallantry in action. When his senior officers became casualties, he took command of his company and led with great coolness and skill under very heavy fire. On another occasion he led a party of about 25 against the enemy, took 27 prisoners and charging forward entered the enemy trench and captured it and took 100 prisoners."

Notes All personal effects were lost at sea when the Ship SS ‘Barunga’ was sunk through enemy action.

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