Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frederick Neebone King (653)
Frederick Neebone King was born in September 1881 at Coraki, New South Wales, to parents Thomas King and his wife Magdalen (née Yabsley). He was one of a large family of two girls and six boys. He arrived in the Cardwell district in 1907 from the Richmond area of NSW and occupied a property on the southern side of the Tully River owned by Mrs Barbara Henry. He worked as a timber merchant and cedar cutter. Together with Jack McMillan, he cut timber in the Cochable Creek area of the Tully Valley and rafted it down to the river mouth.

He was an active member of the Rockingham Progress Association which worked towards the building of a sugar mill in the district and in 1911 was part of the escort which showed investigating Commissioners over the area. Soon after the First World War broke out he enlisted on 18 November 1914, in Brisbane. He was appointed to Head Quarters, 5th Light Horse Regiment at Enoggera camp, with service number 653.

The 5th Light Horse Regiment was wholly formed of Queensland recruits and was part of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade which served in Egypt and the Middle East. In actively recruiting the regiment in Queensland, more volunteers were received than required so selection became based on a test in riding and shooting. King was one of the early recruits.

He embarked on the Persic from Sydney on 21 December 1914. The ship joined the main convoy at Albany, WA. Forty-two days later the convoy arrived at Alexandria in Egypt. Tactical training was completed at Maadi. The Regiment then was ordered to Gallipoli to reinforce the infantry following the initial landing and arrived in late May 1915. The 5th Light Horse played a defensive role for most of the campaign but was involved in several minor attacks. It left the peninsula on 20 December 1915. After the withdrawal, the Regiment was reorganized as a mounted unit to combat the Turkish threat.

King became Acting Transport Sergeant from December 1914 but reverted to Private at his own request, however he was again promoted to Corporal. King was wounded on 4th August 1916 by machine gun fire when he was hit on the chin by a spent bullet but remained with his regiment. This took place at the Battle of Romani when the Turkish advance was repulsed with heavy losses.

At Romani a stop was finally put to the Turkish threat to the Suez Canal. The 5th Light Horse was then involved in several small engagements during August as the Turks retreated following this defeat.

King was promoted to Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant and Warrant Officer Class II in November 1916. He remained with the 5th as the campaign moved towards Palestine and Gaza until he was instructed to report for duty with the 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment in August 1917, but transferred back to the 5th in February 1918. He spent a short time in hospital near Moascar in April 1918. At this time the 5th Light Horse was engaged in holding the west bank of the Jordan River.

As hostilities drew to a close, King embarked at Port Said to sail to the UK for a 60 day leave period before returning to Egypt and then embarked for Australia in June 1919 on HMAT Madras. He was discharged on 29 October and returned to North Queensland where he worked in the Japoonvale-Silkwood area with his bullock teams. King also owned land near Silkwood and grew cane which he sent to the South Johnstone Mill. His assignment was transferred to the Tully Mill in 1927, and when the Tully Cooperative Sugar Milling Association took over the mill in 1931 he was a foundation shareholder. He also was on the first Board of Directors (1931-1936) and was again a Director from 1939 to 1941.

He was one of the five trustees for the Soldiers Memorial School of Arts at El Arish when it was set up and gazetted through the Department of Public Lands in October 1932. For many years he continued to run the cane farm at Jaffa where King Road marks the family presence. He also grazed cattle on a property at Murray Upper located on another King Road, also named after his family. He died on 24 July 1963 at the age of 81 and was buried in Innisfail cemetery beside his wife, Florence Richmond King.
Researched and Written by The Cardwell and District Historical Society, Cardwell Queensland. cardwellhistory.com.au