Edward Joseph King

courtesy Shelley Tonkin
Ted during WW 2
Personal Information
Date of Birth	2 Apr 1893
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale
Death	29 May 1969, aged 76
Place of Death	Forrestfield, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	22 years, 9 months
Description	5'8" (1.73m) tall; weight 146 lbs (66.2kg); fresh complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair.
Occupation	mill hand
Religion	Church of England
Address	Bush Landing, Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr George King
Military Information
Reg Number	2440
Date of Enlistment	26 Jan 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion 5th reinforcement / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	20 Sep 1916 - 15 Nov 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A66 Uganda
Date of Return	1 Feb 1918 - 18 Mar 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Balmoral Castle
Fate	Wounded in Action 12 Oct 1917 Passchendaele Returned to Australia.
Monument	Jarrahdale
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entry - 1915 Bush Landing, Jarrahdale, swamper. Married Elizabeth Ann Fitzgerald in 1916.

War Service

Entering Blackboy Hill camp, Ted was initially allocated to the 44th Battalion. However on 3 Jun 1916 he was sent back to a Depot Company, before 9 days later being identified as a member of the 5th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion, and he travelled with them to England where he spent less than a month before being sent on to France.. On 12 Dec 1916 Ted proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone aboard HMT Arundel, and was taken on strength by the 51st Battalion at Vignacourt in France on 23 Dec 1916. He was one of 55 reinforcements to join them that day.

On 9 Jun 1916 Ted was reported to have been wounded in action on 7 Jun 1917 (Battle of Messines). However, on 16 Jun 1917 this report was contradicted, saying that he had not been a casualty.

On 12 Oct 1917 at Passchendaele, Ted was wounded in action with a severe wound to the right arm. Initially treated by the 3rd Australian Field Ambulance who passed him on to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station. later on 16 Oct 1917 he was sent on to the 35th General Hospital at Calais before on 22 Oct 1917 when he was embarked on HMHS Brighton for England where next day he was admitted to Queen Mary's Military Hospital in Whalley, Lancashire. Discharged from hospital on 30 Nov 1917 he reported to the No 3 Command Depot in Hurdcott where he was reclassified and deemed unsuitable for further active service. Sent on to the No 2 Command depot at Weymouth to await a ship home.

Discharged at 5th Military District on 14 Aug 1918. Served from 24 Oct 1940 until 4 Sep 1944 with regimental No. W26294

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1921 68 Lindsay street, East Perth porter; 1925 98 Wittenoom street, East Perth; 1928 at 101 Swansea street, Victoria Park; 1931 at 14 Brookman street, North Perth; 1936 - 1949 Beechboro road, Bayswater, luggage porter