KING, Walter Thomas
| Service Number: | 5500 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 13 November 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train |
| Born: | Karkarooc, Victoria, Australia, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Kerang, Gannawarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Saddler |
| Died: | Service related, Melbourne, 6 October 1919, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton, Victoria |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 13 Nov 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5500, 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5500, 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '22' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Chilka embarkation_ship_number: A51 public_note: '' | |
| 2 Feb 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5500, 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train, Egypt and Palestine - Light Horse and AFC Operations |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Steve Larkins
Walter Thomas KING
The final resting place for; - 5500 Driver Walter Thomas King of Meering West via Kerang, Victoria who prior to his enlistment for War Service on the 13th of November 1914 had been employed as a saddler.
Walter was allocated to reinforcements for the 3rd Light Horse Brigade Train 1st AIF, and was embarked for Egypt and further training on the 2nd of February 1915. Whilst in Egypt Walter was transferred over to the 20th Company Australian Army Service Corps on the 8th of February 1916, before being shipped to France on the 20th of March.
Following Walter’s arrival and then continuous time in the field, by the 20th of August, he was again transferred, having been drafted to join the 24th Battalion. Walter had only been in the trenches with his new Unit for less than a month when he was evacuated sick whilst serving in Belgium on the 19th of September, and was sent to England for hospitalization.
Walter was admitted into the Leicester Hospital on the 28th of September, and was diagnosed as suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis after which he would remain in hospital in England until he was deemed no longer able to serve in any capacity. Walter was repatriated to Australia as an invalid aboard the Hospital Ship ‘Kanowna’, which departed England on the 14th of January 1917.
After Walter’s return to Australia, he was admitted into the 11th Australian General Hospital (Caulfield) on the 8th of March for ongoing care before being transferred to the Macleod Repatriation Sanatorium for further treatment for tuberculosis. Walter received his official discharge on the 2nd of June 1917 from the 1st AIF for his re-entry into civilian life.
Walter’s premature death at the age of 25, following his return from ‘Active Service Abroad’ as an invalid caused by his War service occurred on the 6th of October 1919. Following his passing, Driver Walter King was formally interred within Melbourne General Cemetery, Victoria.