Ernest Henry KING
Per his military service record (regimental no. 4821), Ernest Henry King was born at Bathurst, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 29 years and 1 month, his marital status as single, and his occupation as blacksmith. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination form was height 5 feet 9 inches tall, with a medium complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. He claimed to have had 3 years military service in B Company of the 3rd Infantry Regiment at Bathurst.
Captain A. C. Eade stated that ‘Private King joined the Coo-ees at Wallerawang’ in a farewell given for him and another soldier at the Soldiers’ Monument in Bathurst on 6th January 1916.[2] The ‘Date of joining’ on the HMAT Star of England A15 embarkation roll for Private Ernest Henry King was recorded as 31st October 1915.[3] On this date the Coo-ees had a rest day at Wallerawang, after having held a recruiting meeting there the night before.
He completed his medical examination, and was attested by Captain Eade, at Lithgow, on 2nd November 1915.
After completing the Co-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
The Lithgow Mercury reported that ‘Ern King’, along with fellow Coo-ee George Davidson, who had both joined the Coo-ees from Cullen Bullen, ‘were farewelled at a smoke concert in the Cullen Hall’ in early January 1916, and Private King was presented with ‘a silver cigarette case, holder, and pouch’.[4]
On his embarkation roll his address at time of enrolment was 98 Russell Street, Bathurst, N.S.W., and his next of kin is listed as his mother, Mrs. M. A. [Mary Ann] King, at the same address.
On 8th March 1916 Private King, along with many of the other Coo-ees, departed Sydney on the HMAT A15 Star of England, with the 15th reinforcements for the 13th Battalion. He arrived in Egypt on 11th April 1916.
On 16th April 1916 Private King on was transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt.
On 19th April 1916 Private King was sent to the 13th Australian Field Ambulance at Serapaum, Egypt, suffering from Mumps. On 25th April 1916 he was transferred to the 54th Casualty Clearing Station at Serapaum. He was discharged on 4th May 1916 and re-joined the 4th Pioneer Battalion.
On 4th June 1916 Private King left Alexandria aboard the Transport Scotian bound for France. He arrived at Marseilles on 11th June 1916.
On 9th August 1917 Private King went on leave in France until 19th August 1917.
On 8th September 1917 Private King was detached to the 14th Australian Army Service Company to paint wagons. He returned to the 4th Pioneer Battalion on 17th September 1917.
On 1st December 1917 Private King was promoted to Lance Corporal.
On 27th September 1918 Lance Corporal King was appointed Driver, and went on leave to England. He returned to the 4th Pioneer Battalion on 13th October 1918.
On the 7th of April 1919 Lance Corporal King departed Le Harve, France, bound for England. He arrived at Southampton, England on 9th April 1919.
On 12th May 1919 Lance Corporal King departed England on the HT Port Napier bound for Australia.
He arrived in Australia on 5th July 1919. He was discharged Termination of Period of Enlistment on 27th August 1919.
[1] NAA: B2455, KING E H
[2] ‘Privates Jack Rigby and E. King’, National Advocate, 7 January 1916, p. 5. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158051490
[3] Australia War Memorial. ‘First World War Embarkation Rolls, Ernest Henry King’, HMAT Star of England A15, https://oldsite.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1830975/
[4] ‘Cullen Bullen Recruiting’, Lithgow Mercury, 7 January 1916, p. 3. Retrieved June 18, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article218730509
1915 Coo-ee March 