Albert William King
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Another old boy of Christ Church Boys’ School, Elm Road, to make the supreme sacrifice was Albert William King, son of Mr.George. and Mrs. Emma King of Coombe Warren Farm. Albert was born at Coombe in 1896 and was one of twelve siblings. After leaving school, he was employed like his father, as a gardener’s labourer.
Albert’s joined the Army Service Corps at Grove Park on the 18th January, 1915 before proceeding to Hungerford for training. His Army Service Papers show that Albert although just 5ft 4 ½ inches in height and weighing 133 lbs, his overall physical development was classed as ‘good’. His pre-war occupation was that of a motor vehicle driver and it was no surprise therfore, that he was posted to a Motor Transport section. .Albert was sent to France on the 25th July 1915 travelling across the Channel on the ‘Duchess of Argyle’and disembarking at Rouen the following day. On the 15th August, he was assigned to the 317 Auxiliary Company Army Service Corps. He was to serve on the Western Front for over three years before before succumbing to shell wounds received during an German aircraft attack. Major Bancroft, writing to the deceased’s mother, stated that that on October 8th Albert was driving his lorry, containing a large convoy of troops, to a forward area, when they were attacked by enemy aircraft. Although taken to the 58th Casualty Clearing Station, her son was so badly wounded that he died the following day the 9th October 1918. “Your son was truly one of my best men, and I felt that I could always rely on him and trust him to do his duty, and in this he never failed once. We all feel his loss very much, as he was so popular with everyone ... He was buried at La Baraque, a small village about six miles north of St. Quentin.” Albert was 23 years of age. His grave can be found at Tincourt New British Cemetery in the Somme Region of France. |