KING, Walter John Charles

Walter King spent only a small time before he enlisted at East Melbourne. He was born at Rushworth, Victoria, in 1895 and was the youngest of four children, the other three being girls. By the time he enlisted on 26 February, 1916, both parents were dead, and his eldest sister, Mrs. B Dower, was nominated as his next of kin. At the time walter King enlisted, she was living at 1225 Hoddle Street, East Melbourne, but later moved to 56 Grey Street, then to Northcote. Walter King was twenty years old, a hairdresser living in Warrnambool, single and belonging to the Church of England.

He trained at Broadmeadows, then with the other reinforcements, embarked on HMAT Anchises A 68, for Egypt. During training, he was with reinforcements for the Pioneer Battalions, but on 10 March, was switched over to the 29th Battalion. They disembarked at Suez on 15 April, 1916,and went for more training at Suez, before leaving on the HMT Franconia from Alexandra to England. After disembarking at Plymouth on 16 June, 1916, they marched in to Lark Hill on the Salisbury Plains on 1 July. Walter King had got himself into trouble by then, and was charged with being away without leave from 26-29 June. Again, from 30 July, he went AWL until 9 August. In each case, he was punished, lost a number of days' wages and had further leave stopped. With the second episode, he also caught V.D. and had to be sent to Bulworth Military Hospital for ten days' treatment. Fomr Lark Hill, they were shipped to France, landing at Etaples on 11 September, then travelling to the Western Front, where they were thrown immediately into the fighting.

Walter King was taken on strength with the 29th Battalion on  29 Septmber, 1916. On 24 October, he was killed in action at the Somme. The Red Cross files record the witness statements about his death. Taken a year later, they are confused about the actual date on which he died, but very clear about what happened:

2nd Lieutenant G.J. Davern: He was killed at Flers by shellfire about the latter end of of October 1916 and was buried where he fell.

Private J.H. Turner 3018 29th Battalion: We were in the trneches at Flers-Somme, when a shell killed King instantly and two others of whom J. Brady was one. I saw this being about 20 yards away. The date would be about Nov. 2 16 as we only went to the front line 0n  30 October and this happened two or three days later. King was buried in the trench where he fell. I saw the spot. He came from Warrnambool and was a barber by trade.

Private Walter John King 2543 is buried at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Cemetery, Villers Bretonneux, Picardie, France. He is remembered at the Australian War Memorial in the Roll of Honour cards 145 and on Panel 115 in the Commemorative Area.