BORN MOOSEJAW, MANITOBA, CANADA 1891. ELDEST SON OF LAWRENCE BOWDLER KING & RACHEL KING, OF 21, MAY STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). SON OF A RETAIL CHEMIST. HE LIVED AT 83 CRANBROOK AVENUE, COTTINGHAM ROAD, HULL
A REGULAR ARMY SOLDIER. ENLISTED HULL. FOMERLY, 9242 KINGS OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY HE WENT TO FRANCE IN SEPTEMBER 1914. HE SHOWED CONSPICIOUS ABILITY AND GAINED RAPID PROMOTION. HE WAS TRANSFERRED, AS A COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR, IN THE 13TH MACHINE GUN CORPS. BEING MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES FOR COURAGEOUS CONDUCT AND WAS KILLED AT THE TIME WHEN FURTHER PROMOTION WAS TO BE CONFERRED ON HIM.
HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, AT ARRAS, ON 09/04/1917, AGED 26. HE HAD BEEN IN CONTINOUS ACTIVE SERVICE, SINCE SEPTEMBER 1914.
HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE RETURNED TO HIS MOTHER, RACHEL. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 09/05/1917. *
HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, L/CPL, WILLIAM HENRY KING, EX 10TH EAST YORKSHIRES AND LATER 1ST SHERWOOD FORRESTERS, WAS KILLED ON 28/08/1918, AGED 22 YEARS.
Thank You to Laurence King [mailto:lf.lp.king@talktalk.net] who writes on 17/02/2017: Laurie would have been my Uncle. He was killed on the first day of the battle for Vimy Ridge. Although the location of his body was originally known, during the confusion of the battle, it was ‘misplaced’ – hence he is recorded on the Arras Memorial. His younger brother, William Henry King, died of wounds received in August 1918 and is buried at La Targette. At some stage, Lawrence’s name was added to Will’s headstone. If you require any further info, photos and such, let me know. Regards Laurie King.
