John Patrick King

KING, John Patrick- – – – SPC 1909-1912

DoB:- – 1894, Teesdale, near Geelong, VIC

Father:– – Patrick J King, died 21 April 1914, aged 55 years

Mother:- – Christina

In 1912 John King passed the Junior Public examinations with distinctions in five subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Algebra (D), Arithmetic (D), Geometry (D), Geography (D), French (D), English, History.

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In the College Annual of 1913 it was reported that John King was at the State Forests Department, Melbourne.- He was also the Secretary of the newly formed CYMS (Catholic Young Men’s Society) in Heidelberg.

Service No:- 10697

Rank:– – Sapper, Driver, Lance Corporal

Unit:- – 3rd Divisional Signal Company

John Patrick King enlisted in the AIF on 4 February, 1916. He was a single man, aged 21 years and 11 months, whose occupation was clerk. He was five feet, eight inches tall, with a medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

John King embarked from Australia on 27 June, 1916, aboard the Ascanius proceeding to England. After undergoing further training, he travelled across to Havre, France in preparation for action at the Front.

Driver King was accidentally injured in his left shoulder in May 1917, and was admitted to the 3rd Divisional Rest Station for treatment. After two weeks, he was transferred to the Convalescent Camp, and was able to rejoin his unit on 13 June.

The following year, on 13 April 1918, he was appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal. Later that month, King was awarded the Military Medal for -“

-‘-¦ Conspicuous gallantry and tenacious devotion to duty on 24.4.18. L/Cpl King worked from 4am to 6pm under heavy shell fire all the time, repairing telephone lines in the village of BONNAY and between there and the Advance Brigade Headquarters in J.19 (South of the River Ancre). He was in charge of several linesmen whom he employed with skill and led with dogged persistence and utter disregard for danger. The lines he was working on were constantly being cut on both sides of him, he continued his efforts throughout the bombardment with splendid determination -¦’

Lance Corporal King remained in France for several more months, remaining at his post after being wounded in action on 29 September 1918. By the end of that year, he was hospitalised with influenza, and ultimately invalided to the Ontario Military Hospital in Kent, England for treatment for the -‘flu, as well as severe psoriasis, a chronic itchy skin disease. He was discharged from hospital on 22 January 1919.

King left England for his return to Australia aboard the Ceramic on 12 March 1920. He reached Melbourne on 6 May and was discharged from the AIF on 12 September 1920.

The College has been unable to trace John Patrick King’s movements after his return to Australia. His date of death, 4 December 1957, was recorded on his service record, although the College could find no corroborating records, or cemetery records.