King, Frederick

TRUMPETER LANCE CORPORAL 3480

8^th (KINGS ROYAL IRISH ) HUSSARS 

SURVIVED.

Frederick King was born on the 7^th of April 1877 and baptized on the 16^th of February 1879, at the same time as a younger sister Lydia, at Holy Trinity Marylebone.

He was one of at least thirteen children born to William and Sophia nee Shaw.

The children were all born in different areas of London, but the youngest child Annie was born at Worlds End, Kensington.

Frederick’s father was employed as an oilman’s porter.

On the 1881 census the family were living at 43, Bolsover Road in Marylebone. This property was shared with four other families.

Frederick’s father died in 1884 and both Frederick and  his brother Charles were admitted into the Britten Street Workhouse. From here Frederick was sent to Beechholme, being admitted on the 14th of March 1884, while Charles was sent to the infirmary of the workhouse .

On the 1891 census Frederick was resident in Beechholme along with his youngest sister Annie. Their mother had been in and out of the workhouse and was often in the infirmary . She died in 1891.

Frederick was discharged from the school on the 17th of May 1892 to the 8th Hussars at Norwich.
His age was given as fifteen years exactly and his occupation as musician. He was four feet eleven inches in height and weighed ninety eight pounds. He had a fair complexion with dark grey eyes and brown hair. He had scars on the back of his hand.

His next of kin was given as an older brother William living in Kings Road, Chelsea, and another older brother Thomas who was also living in Chelsea.

Frederick was appointed Trumpeter on the 24^th of August 1893. He was promoted to Lance Corporal Trumpeter on the 3^rd of May 1899 and then to Sergeant Trumpeter in 1901.

He served at home from the 17^th of May 1892 until the 12^th of February 1900 when the regiment sailed for South Africa.

His South African service was from the 13^th of February 1900 until the 18^th of November 1903.

He was awarded the South African Medal with Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, 1901 and 1902 clasps.

The regiment arrived in South Africa in March 1900 and along with the 7^th Dragoon Guards and the 14^th Hussars formed the 4^th Cavalry Brigade under Brigadier General Dickson.

On the 1^st of May 1900 the Boers made a stand in a strong position at Hutnek where the forces of Ian Hamilton faced stiff competition . In a telegram of the 8^th of May Lord Roberts said “Hamilton speaks in high terms of the service of the 8^th Hussars under Colonel Clowes and a made up regiment of Lancers which came into Broadwood’s Brigade and assisted in making the Boers evacuate their position”.

The 8^th then marched from Machadodorp to Heidelberg with the 14^th Hussars and M Battery under the command of Colonel Mahon. On the 13^th of October Mahon “ became heavily engaged near Geluk with a body of 1100 men with four guns” Mahon succeeded in holding his position until the Boers were driven back in a south easterly direction having sustained some losses. The 8^th lost two officers and seven men with two officers and eight men wounded. Eight officers and eight non-commissioned officers were mentioned in Lord Roberts’ final despatches of the 2^nd of April and 4^th September 1900.

In the first three months of 1901, the 8^th was in the column of Colonel E.C. Knox at one point sweeping to the Swazi border during the later phases of the war and the Eastern Transvaal to the borders of Zululand were the principal areas of the regiments operations.

One officer and one non-commissioned officer were mentioned by Lord Kitchener. In the final despatch the names of four officers, two non-commissioned officers and one private were added.

Overall the regiment had fifty-four men killed in the war.

From Frederick’s army pension records it is revealed that he remained in South Africa until the 18^th of November 1903 when the regiment returned to England.  Frederick remained  there until the 8^th Hussars  went to India in September 1909 and the regiment stayed there until the 13^th of August 1911.

Frederick had married Amy Hutchinson at Christchurch, Bridlington, Yorkshire on the 12^th of January 1904. They had three children together.

On the 1911 census Frederick, along with Amy and their three children were in barracks in India.

Frederick was discharged from the army by his own request on the 14^th of April 1911.

He had received  long service and good conduct medals with a war gratuity.

On the 1939 register, taken on the 29^th of September 1939 just after the outbreak of the second world war, Frederick and his wife were living at 70, Osborne Road, West Hartlepool, Durham. Frederick’s occupation was given as  retired Warrant Officer Indian Army and special constable.

Frederick died in 1946 in West Hartlepool.