Walter Alfred King
From Our Contribution
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| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27 Nov 1898 |
| Place of Birth | Perth, Western Australia |
| Death | 31 Aug 1960 |
| Place of Death | Joondana, Western Australia |
| Age at Enlistment | 19 years, 5 months |
| Description |
5'8¼" (1.73m) tall ; 130 lbs 58.967 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; dark hair |
| Occupation | Railway employee |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Address | c/- Millars, Mundijong, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr James Wardlow King |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 56351 |
| Date of Enlistment | 8 May 1918 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | Western Australian Reinforcement 2, transferred to 11th Battalion reinforcements in England |
| Date of Embarkation | 29 Jul 1918 ‒ 27 Sep 1918 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A74 Marathon |
| Date of Return | 25 Sep 1919 ‒ 3 Nov 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS Mahana |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Mundijong School Roll of Honour Mundijong Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) |
| Medals | British War Medal |
Pre War
Commenced working for the railways on 10 Aug 1915 after passing a selection board and a medical. Initial employment as a junior in Perth. Granted leave to serve in the AIF.
War Service
Embarked for England in Albany after two months basic training. On arrival in England (London) was sent to the 1st Training Battalion at Fovant where he was allocated on 27 Sep 1918 to the reinforcements for the 11th Battalion, but did not go overseas to France to join them.
From 17 Nov till 23 Nov 1918 he was admitted to the Sutton Veny hospital with influenza, and had another period in hospital from 8 Jan to 5 Feb 1919, this time with mumps. In Feb 1919 he was again hospitalised with influenza, as he was again in April 1919, however, this last time he was to remain there for 2 months.
Discharged 5th Military District 18 Nov 1919
Post War
His Railway records show that on his return from England he rejoined on 2 Nov 1919, and served for short periods at Narrogin, Mundijong and Manjimup before being posted to Pinjarra. Had a short period in Perth before moving to Busselton, and again a brief period in Geraldton before moving to Ballidu. In 1937 was stationmaster at Greenhills and in 1940 he was at Mullewa as the Goods Clerk. In 1944 he returned to Perth as the Clerk in Charge of the night shift until he retired due to invalidity in 1955.
On 4 Nov 1925 Walter married Mabel May Pender McKinley (1904-1989) in the Methodist Church in George street, Pinjarra. Daughter Violet Mabel (1926-1984); son Ernest James (Ernie) (1929-1984)
Electoral Roll entries - 1922 - 1925 Pinjarra, railway employee; 1930- 1931 Election road, Busselton, night stationmaster; 1934 - 1937 Ballidu assistant stationmaster; 1943 Mullewa, clerk; 1949 - 1958 at 100 Powell street, Osborne Park, clerk (daughter Violet Mabel a clerk in 1949)
On 26 Apr 1942 he enlisted at Mullewa in the Citizens Military Forces with Reg No W71970, a Corporal in the 7th Geraldton Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps.
Notes