Soldier Record

Private David King came from a canal boat family and was my great uncle. He enlisted with his older brother Harry King in 1916 after a short period of war work at Dickinsons paper mill. The brothers joined 1st battalion Hertfordshire Regiment (TA). They sent many postcards back to their large family from the front during 1917. On 31st July 1917 1st Herts were part of the attack from Ypres towards the village of Passchendaele. Attacking through St Julien the 1st Herts came under very heavy shell and machine gun fire. During the fighting Harry lost contact with his younger brother and was himself wounded. No remains of David were ever found - along with many of his fellow Herts. Harry wrote a letter during his time in hospital explaining how horrendous the slaughter of the 1st Herts was that day. David is commemorated on the Menin Gate and at Dickinsons company memorials as well as his parents grave at Tamworth. The family have kept David's medals, bible ( the family are Methodists), hymn book and several documents concerning his loss. His father named one of the family boats in his memory and many of his male descendants have been given the name David within their names so he never forgotten.

On the picture, the 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment 1917 - David is on middle row second from left. His brother Harry on back row and to the left.