Military History

Promoted 2nd Lieut. 14.3.1915.and Sergeant 16.4.1915 prior to embarkation
Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Ascanius’ for Egypt 11.6.1915.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit ‘C’ Company, 28th Battalion. 7th Australian Infantry Brigade (AIB).
King disembarked in Egypt with the 28th Battalion. He trained for 2 months in Egypt. The 28th Battalion entrained for Alexandria, joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) and embarked per ‘Ivernia’ for Gallipoli 4.9.1915. Following the evacuation from Gallipoli, King was promoted to Temp/ Company Sergeant Major 15.12.1915. He joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 14.3.1916. He embarked for France 16.3.1916 and disembarked with the 28th Battalion at Marseilles 21.3.1916. He marched out to the Somme and was promoted to Lieutenant 21.8.1916. The 28th had their first frontline engagement at Pozieres between 28th July and 6th August. He was awarded a Military Cross for his service during the Battle of Pozieres 2.9.1916. He was admitted to hospital with a debility and rejoined his Unit 25.1.1917. King was promoted to Captain 12.3.1917. He performed duties as Adjunct to Captain McLean of the 7th Training Battalion 24.7.1917. King rejoined his Unit 30.8.1917 and fought at Broodseinde Ridge. He was wounded in action (1st time) 4.10.1917 with a gunshot wound to his arm. King was admitted to the 17th Casualty Clearing Station, then to No 1 Hospital at Le Treport, before being invalided to England with a fractured right humorous 9.11.1917. On discharge from hospital he proceeded overseas via Southampton 16.2.1918. The 28th Bn were fighting near Dernacourt in April 1918. King was wounded a 2nd time 7.4.1918 with GSW (Shellfire) to his neck and shoulder at Baisieux in France.  He was at that time, standing at the entry of the Chateau of the 28th Bn HQ at Baisieux. He was transferred to the 13th Field Ambulance Casualty Clearing Station Hospital and died of wounds whilst being transferred to the 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital 7.4.1918. He was buried with full Military Honours at Doullens Communal Cemetery, Extension 1, Plot 6, Row A 31, Doullens, Picardie, France.
Final Rank Captain 28th Battalion.
Medical Condition Deceased KIA.
Awards and Medals Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
King was mentioned in Dispatches 28.12.1917 and awarded a Military Cross 26.9.1916
Citation for Military Cross

‘For conspicuous gallantry in action. When his senior officers became casualties, he took command of his company and led with great coolness and skill under very heavy fire. On another occasion he led a party of about 25 against the enemy, took 27 prisoners and charging forward entered the enemy trench and captured it and took 100 prisoners.’ (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 184, 14.12.1916).

Notes All personal effects were lost at sea when the Ship SS ‘Barunga’ was sunk through enemy action.
Photos  Lance Cpl.Horace Chamberlain King. Photograph source Palmer and Ashworth 1922 p40
              HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157
              Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph source AWM P2194.005
              Broodseinde Ridge. Australian Troops in Front Line Trenches October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E00948
              Cptn. H. C. King.   AWM 28th Bn. War Diaries 7.4.1918

Information Source
AWM H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM P2194.005. Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E0094. Broodseinde Ridge. Australian Troops in Front Line Trenches October 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll: Horace Chamberlain King
AWM Honours List: Horace Chamberlain King
AWM Roll of Honour: Horace Chamberlain King
AWM4 -23/45/37/ 28th Infantry Battalion War Diaries. April 1918
NAA: B2455, King H C
Palmer and Ashworth, Australia's Fighting Sons of the Empire. Pub Palmer, E. J. 1922. Facsimile Edition, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, WA 2014
Wise H. and Coy. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

Queens St Claremont. WA (parents)
11 Meadow Street Guildford. WA. (Grandparents)
97 Terrace Road East Guildford  (previous address)

Associated Images