KING, John Christopher
| Service Number: | 1722 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Coolah, New South Wales, Australia, 1893 |
| Home Town: | Mudgee, Mid-Western Regional, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Wollar Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 9 June 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Menin Gate Memorial (Commonwealth Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salient), Mudgee District Fallen Soldiers Memorial, Wollar and District Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1722, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1916: | Involvement Private, 1722, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Apr 1916: | Embarked Private, 1722, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Ceramic, Sydney |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William and John King came from Mudgee NSW and both enlisted in the 45th Battalion. William King was dark in complexion and thus nicknamed “Darkie” or the “Black King”. His brother John Christopher was fair and red headed, thus his nickname was “Ginger” or the “Red King”
One of their mates said “they were two of the best liked men in Company”. Another stated, “I knew the Kings well, they were both splendid fellows. They would stop at nothing.” Apparently “Darkie” was killed outright by machinegun fire on the 7 June 1917. His brother “Ginger” witnessed his death and went out to recover his body later on. He had both his legs taken off by an artillery shell and died within minutes. Although buried in the field by their mates, their graves were lost and they are both remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial. Darkie King was 27 years of age and Ginger King was 24 years old.