ROBERT HENRY KING

Photograph courtesy of Mrs. Ryan.

Laid to rest at the Field of Honour.

Born: 19th November 1877, at 15, Lower Barclay Street, Ipswich.

Died: Friday, 16th July 1920; age: 42; died from the effects of Gas – Atheroma of the Aorta and Angina Pectoris at his home, 28, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

Residence: 28, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

Occupation: Scaffolder for Mr. Sadler, a builder, of Ipswich.

Robert served through the South African Campaign, and on the outbreak of war, he volunteered for service.

Date of Entry Therein: 27th August 1915 – France.

At the time of the Armistice, Robert was serving in Italy.

Rank: Sergeant; Service Number: 30534.

Regiment: Royal Army Medical Corps.

Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.

Mentioned in Despatches – 4th January 1917.

Funeral service and burial held on Thursday, 22nd July and conducted by the Reverend Gerald Lloyd Morrell, rector of St. Matthew’s Church.

Grave Reference:

BA.2.55.

Ipswich Old Cemetery,

Ipswich.

Robert’s son is also remembered on the headstone – Major Harry Frank William King – August 1966 – age 60.

Relatives Notified & Address: Husband of Daisy Valentina King, of 28, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

CENSUS

1881   8, Mount Pleasant, Ipswich.

Robert was 3 years old and living with his parents and brother.

Charles Henry King, 31, a Carter, born Ipswich.

Elizabeth Ellen King (nee Segger), 29, a Charwoman, born Kersey, Suffolk.

William Charles King, 1, born Ipswich.

1891   11, Lower Orwell Street, Ipswich.

Robert was 13 years old and living with his parents and siblings.

Charles, 40, a Dock Labourer.

Elizabeth, 38.

William, 10.

Arthur James King, 6, born Ipswich.

Eva Ellen King, 3, born Ipswich.

Adelaide Beatrice King, 8 months, born Ipswich.

1911   28, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

Robert was 33 years old, a Bricklayer’s Labourer, born Ipswich. He was married and head of the household.

Daisy, 27.

Harry, 5.

Robert’s father, Charles Henry King, a vanman for Messrs. Tollemache, accidentally fell from the shafts of his van on the 15th December 1916. Later in the evening, he was admitted to hospital. He had a large wound on the right side of the knee. The wound was in such a dirty condition that tetanus serum was administered at once. Charles died on Boxing Day, 1916, from pneumonia, accelerated through the accident, and was buried on the 30th December, in Section D, Ipswich Old Cemetery.

E.A.D.T. – Friday, 29^th December 1916 – CARMAN’S FATAL ACCIDENT – The inquest on Charles Henry King, a vanman, was held on Thursday, 28^th, in the afternoon at the Town Hall. Albert Francis Brown, of 24, Permit Office Street, a vanman in the employ of Messrs. Tollemache, said on the 15^th December, he went out with Charles King. They started about 3 p.m. from Messrs. Tollemache’s premises in Lower Orwell Street, and they went to Bramford. They were in a horse-rulley, Charles King driving the horse. They left Bramford about five o’clock; it was fairly dark at the time. They had one lamp in the front of the cart and a red lamp in the rear. Charles King drove all the way back, and they did not stop anywhere. When they were near the Rainbow Hotel, Albert was in the back of the van, whilst Charles was standing on the right shaft, with the rein in his hand. The cart shook, and Albert missed Charles. He at once jumped off the back of the van, the horse then being at a standstill. After Albert got down, he saw Charles lying on the road on his back, against the front wheel, which had not gone over him. Some boys gathered round, and one helped Albert to lift the man. Albert asked him if he was hurt, and Charles made no answer. Albert drove the van home to Mr. Bevan’s yard. Charles made no complaint on the way home. Albert had not seen Charles King take anything to drink that afternoon. The horse was a quiet one and was just on the trot when they were in St. Matthew’s Street, but had slowed down before Charles fell. Nothing had frightened the horse, and there was no whip or stick on the van.

The Coroner, having minutely and exhaustively dissected the evidence, particularly calling attention to the dangerous practice of standing on the shafts of vehicles. The Jury returned a verdict of “Death from pneumonia, accelerated through accidentally falling from the shafts of the van, no blame attaching to anybody.

                                                                          Robert and Daisy with their sons Harry (standing) and Alfred seated on his mother’s lap.

On the 23rd April 1905, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich, 27 year old Robert, a labourer, of 17, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich, married 21 year old Daisy Valentina Macro, born February 1884, Ipswich – daughter of William Macro, a retired letter carrier, and Margaret Ann Macro (nee Tydeman), of 19, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

Daisy and Robert had three sons:

Harry Frank William King, born March 1906, Ipswich, and baptised on the 15th April 1906, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich – family home at 19, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

Alfred Arthur King, born October 1912, Ipswich, and baptised on the 17th November 1912, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich – family home at 28, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

Douglas Haig King, born October 1917, Ipswich, and baptised on the 2nd December 1917, at St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich – family home at 28, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich.

Image from IWM.

Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury – Friday, 30^th July 1920 – MILITARY FUNERAL AT IPSWICH – The funeral took place at Ipswich Old Cemetery on Thursday of last week of Sergeant Robert Henry King, late of the R.A.M.C., whose death occurred at his home, 28, St. Matthew’s Church Lane, Ipswich, on Friday, 16^th July, at the early age of 42. The deceased served right through the South African campaign, and on returning to England took his discharge from the Army and worked as a scaffolder, first at Messrs. Cranfield’s mill, and then for Mr. Sadler, builder, of Ipswich. On the outbreak of war he volunteered for service, and in August 1915, he went out to France. He later saw service in Italy, and was in that country at the time of the Armistice. Whilst serving in France, he was gassed three times, and it was to the after-effects of the gas that his death was due. Sergeant Robert King was mentioned in dispatches and had been recommended for the D.C.M.

The remains were buried with full military honours, the coffin, covered with the Union Jack, being borne on a gun-carriage, which, with the bearers, firing party, and trumpeter, were supplied by the 68^th Battery, R.F.A., stationed at Ipswich, by kind permission of Major Cooper, D.S.O., officer commanding. Lieutenant Taylor, M.C., was in charge of the contingent. The mourners were the widow; Messrs. Harry and Alfred King – sons, Mr. W. King – brother, Mrs. King – mother, Mrs. Lucas and Mrs. J. Gibson, Mrs. F. Gibson, Mrs. A. Chamberlain, and Mrs. A. Welch – sisters, Mr. and Mrs. Macro – father and mother-in-law, Miss Chamberlain – niece, and Messrs. W. Macro, A. Welch. M. Parker, and Reynolds – brothers-in-law. The service was concluded by the Reverend Gerald Lloyd Morrell, rector of St. Matthew’s Church, Ipswich. The grave was in the Field of Honour, and after the committal service the customary three volleys were fired. In addition to those from the members of the family, wreaths were sent by the Ipswich Women’s Guild and the Discharged Soldiers.

The funeral arrangements were carried out by Hastings and Son.