Harry King

Biography

Harry King was born in Burton-on-Trent, it is believed on the 10th May 1920. His parents were Harry and Minnie King (née Bannister). Harry and Minnie were also born in Burton — Harry in June 1883 and Minnie in June 1888. Minnie was the last of five children. By 1911 both Harry and Minnie were living in the Union Workhouse, Belvedere House, along with Florence (one of Minnie’s sisters) and 622 others. Those who lived there were recorded as patients or inmates; many in the period records using the harsh language of the day (“imbecile”, “mentally defective”), terms which were the formal legal classifications then but no longer in respectful use. Others such as Harry and Minnie had jobs — Harry a bricklayer and Minnie a housekeeper. There is no evidence that Harry served in the First World War.

In the late autumn of 1919, at St. Paul’s Church, Burton, Harry and Minnie were married. When their son Harry was eleven he was admitted to St Mark’s Home, Natland. The Children’s Society records for Harry have been destroyed, so the specific reason for Harry coming to Natland is not known. It is known he arrived on 20th July 1931. He was baptised at St Mark’s Church on 7th January 1932 and on the 12th December 1934, at age 14, he was confirmed — again at St Mark’s. Minnie was listed as the only parent.

Standon Farm Home for Boys, Hertfordshire, where Harry was sent for farm-work training in 1935.

On the 17th April 1935 Harry was transferred to Standon Home in Hertfordshire, which specialised in training boys for farm work. When Harry left there on the 18th June 1937 he became a farm labourer. This did not last very long before Harry decided to join the army as a regular soldier.

Service Record

Harry signed on for 12 years on the 18th November 1937. He gave his age as 18 — being born on the 10th May 1919 — when in fact he was only 17. He became 4915148 Private King in the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. He was quite tall for his age at 5 feet 8.5 inches and weighed nearly 11 stone. He had a fresh complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. His father was given as his next of kin and his address as Belvedere House.

On the 14th September 1938, along with the 1st Staffords, Harry went to Palestine. His unit was first based in Nazareth. In October 1939 his unit moved to Hebron on internal security duties, but by Christmas were in Jerusalem.

For the first three months of 1940 the Staffords were camped at Jericho and Gedera. While there Harry would have received the news of his father’s death on the 5th January. His mother survived until the spring of 1956. Now part of the 14th Brigade, Harry and his unit left for Egypt on the 31st May 1940, arriving at Helwen near Cairo on 1st June. Harry became one of Wavell’s 30,000 ready for battle. The Western Desert Force was preparing to attack Italian Forces in Libya in anticipation of Italy’s entry to the war, which they did on the 10th June 1940.

How They Died

The soldiers practised in preparation, and at 22:45 hours on the 8th June a vehicle containing Harry and seven other soldiers was involved in a traffic accident. All were killed. Harry was badly burned, but in a letter to his father the commanding officer Lt. Col. Bartlett said it would be of “some relief to know that death must have been instantaneous.” Clearly the commanding officer was unaware that Mr. King was already dead.

Where They Rest

Hopefully the letter reached Minnie, who was recognised by the CWGC as next of kin. Harry’s age was given as 19 when in fact he was now 20. Harry was buried with full military honours in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. “The service at the graveside was very impressive and beautifully carried out.” His name appears on our Natland War Memorial.

Life timeline

  1. Born in Burton-on-Trent

    Parents Harry and Minnie King (née Bannister), both also born in Burton. By 1911 both Harry senior and Minnie were inmates of the Burton Union Workhouse — Harry as a bricklayer, Minnie as a housekeeper. They married in late autumn 1919.

  2. Admitted to St Mark's Home, Natland, aged 11

    The Children's Society records have been destroyed so the specific reason is not known.

  3. Baptised at St Mark's Church, Natland

  4. Confirmed at St Mark's Church, aged 14

    Minnie was listed as the only parent.

  5. Transferred to Standon Home in Hertfordshire

    A home which specialised in training boys for farm work.

  6. Left Standon to become a farm labourer

  7. Enlisted in the Army for 12 years, aged 17

    Gave his age as 18, claiming to be born on 10 May 1919, when in fact he was only 17. Became 4915148 Private King in the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. 5 feet 8.5 inches tall, fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair.

  8. Sailed for Palestine with the 1st Staffords

    First based in Nazareth.

  9. Unit moved to Hebron on internal security duties

  10. In Jerusalem by Christmas

  11. His father Harry died

    Harry would have received the news while camped at Jericho or Gedera with the Staffords.

  12. Embarked for Egypt with the 14th Brigade

    Arrived at Helwen near Cairo on 1st June. Now one of Wavell's 30,000 ready for battle. The Western Desert Force was preparing to attack Italian forces in Libya in anticipation of Italy's entry to the war.

  13. Killed in a vehicle accident at 22:45, aged 20

    Two days before Italy's entry to the war. A vehicle containing Harry and seven other soldiers was involved in a traffic accident; all were killed. Harry was badly burned. His commanding officer Lt. Col. Bartlett wrote to his father — unaware that Mr. King was already dead — saying it would be 'some relief to know that death must have been instantaneous.'

  14. Buried with full military honours in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery

    'The service at the graveside was very impressive and beautifully carried out.' His age was given as 19 when in fact he was 20. His mother Minnie, recognised by the CWGC as next of kin, survived him by sixteen years; she died in spring 1956. Also commemorated on the Natland War Memorial.

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