Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The Source for the Story about Walter Hugh "Dudley" King was from a public domain blog with the Author Unnamed. Section KINGS IN QUEENSLAND

https://kinghuey.wordpress.com/11-kings-queensland/

Walter "Married" Dorothy Elands "Dorrie" - Widow of Thomas Patrick Hoolihan.
They have one child - my Step-Mother - Ray Emily Clarson [nee King] born 21 Oct 1928.

Ray married my Father Alexander Jeffery "Jeff" Clarson and she passed away on the 09 Aug 1997. During our conversations her Father was never mentioned.

Walter Hugh King attended Nudgee College in Brisbane from 1905 –1908 with Clive and was cared for by Henry Eustace after his mother’s death. Walter, born in 1896 would have been about 14 when she died in about 1910. He lived with Henry Eustace King, his uncle. They called him Dudley as there was already a Walter in the family. He worked for R.Bellhouse at Camooweal before enlisting for the lighthorse on 16/12/1914 at Camooweal Qld.. His next of kin was Clive Eustace King, address unknown last heard of at Longreach Queensland. He transferred to the Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train at Brisbane on 29th March 1915. His trade was a Horse breaker. It appears he was a bit wild as he had been discharged from the lighthorse for inappropriate behaviour and he did not state all of his previous service and he had been rejected as unfit for his majesty’s service but did not state on what grounds. Henry Eustace was his next of kin when re-enlisting. He was 23 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall with a chest measurement of 36 inches and weighed 168lbs. His complexion was fresh, eyes grey and hair brown. He had a small scar at the back of his scalp #[see below]. He was Roman Catholic. During WW1 he served with the A.I.F. in the 42nd battallion. He embarked from Melbourne per HMAT A39 “Port Macquarie” on the 4/6/1915. He was on baggage guard duty for a while then rejoined the unit at Tsamilia on 21/1/1916. He was hospitalised quite a few times for V.D. during the war. He saw action in France at Amiens where he spent some time with the field ambulance brigade before being reverted to gunner at his own request. He was first wounded in action on 16/6/1917 when he received a gunshot wound to the forehead [eyebrow] and right leg. He rejoined field ambulance brigade 21 days later. He was again wounded on 27/9/1917 when he received a gunshot wound to the right forearm. This wound was bad enough to see him sent to England on H.S. Newhaven France. At this time, Malvern King was listed as living at 304 Murray St Rockhampton with Auntie Jo But I think this was just a convenient address as all the boys were very close to their Aunty. The story goes that when Walter was in England during the war, he was dating a girl and she became pregnant. Against the advice of his mates, he did the honourable thing and married her on 10th April 1918. She was Mrs V.J.KING 6 Stourcliffe St., Edgeware Rd. London W.1 After the wedding, he discovered that he may not have been the father. He left her when discharged and sent back to Australia on 17/8/1918,after refusing to serve another 7 years with the Navy or attesting with the Australian infantry. He returned to ‘Walkcege’. The woman followed him out. At the time she arrived, his cousin, Edwina and her husband Reg Taylor were about to go to Lake Nash in the northern territory. Walter decided to go with them, as his wife would certainly not follow him there. The story is that he lived the rest of his life in the territory and is buried there. However he wrote to the record office on 17th November 1922 requesting his army records, medical sheet and marriage certificate from Oceana Terrace Manly, Brisbane. He listed his record as No220 driver 42nd battery, 11th field artillery brigade 4th division A.F.A.. He asked for the reply to be sent to Mr M.C.Dalby, solicitor, 246a George St Brisbane, so perhaps he was at Manly on holidays. He is remembered as a dashing fellow and a good athlete, though another member of the family remembers him as being a bit wild. He received the star, the British war medal and the Victory.