JOHN CORBITT KING
Born: 1890, Ipswich.
Died: 13th November 1916; age 26; KiA.
Enlistment Location: Exeter, Devon.
Rank: Lance Corporal; Service Number: 43756
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion.
Formerly 2640, Suffolk Cyclists.
Medals Awarded: Victory & British War.
Grave Reference:
B.7.
Puisieux,
Pas de Calais,
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Husband of Mary E. Girling (formerly King), of 348, Norwich Road, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1891 53, Berners Street, Ipswich.
John was 11 months old and living with his parents & sisters.
Edward King, 34, an Auctioneer’s Accountant, born Chelmondiston, Suffolk.
Louisa King (nee Wilkins), 32, born Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.
Lucas Charles King, 5, born Ipswich.
Esther Christmas King, 4, born Ipswich.
Winifred Louisa King, 2, born Ipswich.
1 nursemaid
1 domestic servant.
1901 The Street, Claydon, Suffolk.
John was 10 years and living with his parents & siblings + maternal aunt.
Edward, 44, an Auctioneer’s Manager.
Louisa, 41.
Lucas, 15.
Winifred, 12.
Hilda Mary King, 8, born Ipswich.
Harold Edward King, 7, born Ipswich.
Margaret Doris King, 5, born Ipswich.
Dorothy Kathleen King, 2, born Ipswich.
Nellie Wilkins, 25, born Watford, Hertsfordshire.
1 visitor.
2 general domestic servants.
1911 15, Victoria Grove, Folkestone, Kent.
John was 20 years old, a Manager to Jeweller. He was boarding at the home of 35 year old George Christopher Clark – Solicitor’s Clerk.
In 1914, Exeter, Devon, John married Mary E. Jackson.
They had 1 daughter:
Joan Corbitt King, born 1915, Exeter, Devon.
Soldiers’ Effects to Mary E. King – widow.
John is also remembered on the war memorial at Northgate High School. Formerly Ipswich Grammar School for Boys.
Suffolk Regiment, 2nd Battalion:
The Battle of Ancre in the Serre sector was the last of the 1916 Battles of the Somme for the 2nd Battalion. The weather had been very poor with flooded trenches, many communication trenches being abandoned. The Battalion was sent into the line on the 6th November for an attack, but was later cancelled through more bad weather and rescheduled for the 10th, this too was canceled. On the night of the 12th the Battalion moved out onto open positions, moving off at 05:00 hrs on the 13th. Moving in extremely muddy conditions making slow progress through “no mans land” taking the first wave 45 minutes to reach the German lines. The weather had given them good cover, but all officers on the first wave were casualties, despite this, the Suffolk’s reach the second line. Holding it the rest of the day the battalion was unable to move more men up through the mud and wire failing to reorganise. The battalion returned back to the line taking 272 casualties.
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