KING, William John
| Service Number: | 1168 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 July 1915, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 1st Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Kyneton, Victoria, 1881 |
| Home Town: | Kyneton, Macedon Ranges, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carter |
| Died: | Accidental (lost both legs in railway accident), Amiens, France, 9 December 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens Grave VII A4, St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens., St Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kyneton Honour Roll, Kyneton War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1168, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1168, 13th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: SS Hawkes Bay embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 26 Oct 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1168, 13th Light Horse Regiment, SS Hawkes Bay, Melbourne | |
| 9 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 1168, 1st Light Horse Regiment, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1168 awm_unit: 1 Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Trooper awm_died_date: 1916-12-09 |
A Kindly Thought
A Kindly Thought.
The kindly thought of soldiers for each other is illustrated by a story
that came to Kyrneton last mail. It will be remembered that Trooper W.
J. King son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. King, of Kyneton was killed in a railway accident in France some time ago. Percy King, his brother, in a letter home, tells how Captain Fyans searched for and found Trooper King's grave; then communicated with Driver Percy King, for whom he secured leave: and they, two, erected a maple cross with gold lettering and permanently walled in the grave of their brother and comrade. It is such kindly acts as this that make the Australian relatives at home thrill with gratitude to the Australian soldier abroad. Kyneton Guardian, Thursday 18 July 1918
Submitted 12 May 2019 by Peter Sunners
Biography contributed by Peter Sunners
William John King was the second child of five children born to Robert John King and Mary Ann Jones.
His father came to Australia with his family at the age of fifteen years on the ship White Star arriving in 1868. The family settled in Kyneton,Victoria where Robert John later started a carrying business using bullock wagons. The business still exists today but is no longer in the family and now uses semi-trailers!
Robert married Mary Ann in 1876 and the family lived in Beauchamp St. Kyneton.
William John attended the local school and on completeing his education joined his father as a carrier.
He enlisted in July 1915 and embarked for overseas with the 4th Light Horse Brigade on 26 Oct 1915.
He was accidently struck by a train in Amiens, France on 9 December 1916 and subsequently died of shock following the amputation of both legs. He was taken to a New Zealand manned hospital but was dead on arrival.
William John King is listed in the Commonwealth War Graves Records -
William John King, Trooper, No. 1168, died 9/12/1916, age unknown, Australian Light Horse, Grave VII A4, St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens.
He is also listed on the gravestone of the King Family in Keyneton Cemetery.
"In Memory Of MARY ANN, The Beloved Daughter of JOHN & MARY ANN KING of Kyneton
Who departed this life 23rd JUNE 1875. Aged 16 years, and
JOHN KING, Father of the above
Died 14th JANUARY 1890, Aged 67 years
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord (REV 14:13)
MARY ANN wife of the above
Died 19th FEBRUARY 1910. Aged 85 years
WILLIAM JOHN KING Died on active service
9th DECEMBER 1916, Aged 33 years.
ROBERT JOHN KING Father of the above
Died 23rd AUGUST 1923, Aged 70 years
and his wife MARY ANN KING
Died 7th April 1937, Aged 82 years
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