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Dec 25, 1888
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Born in Georgetown, Ontario to George and Alice
(nee Crocker) King
His birth was registered on December 31, 1888 by
his grandmother on the same day as she registered the birth of his sister, Clara Catherine
King who was born a year earlier, November 24, 1887.
The 1901 Census lists William’s birth date as December 25, 1889
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Aug 11, 1915
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Married to Gertie Peace in Georgetown, Ontario
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Feb 8, 1916
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Attested into the 164th Battalion CEF
in Georgetown, Ontario
Ø Number 663432
Ø Next of kin given as Mrs. Gertrude King, wife, Georgetown, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation given as Glove Cutter
Ø Previous military experience given as 2 years with the volunteers
(Canadian Militia)
Ø Religion given as Methodist
For some reason he stated that he was born
December 25, 1890, not his actual year of 1888
Private King initially trained with the recruits
in Georgetown
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Jun 5, 1916
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The entire battalion was gathered in Orangeville
in tents in the Fair Grounds there to conduct battalion level training
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Jul 6, 1916
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The battalion moved to Camp Borden, near Barrie,
Ontario to continue training
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Sep 23, 1916
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Admitted to the Camp Borden Hospital with a
diagnosis that reads Measles
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Oct 4, 1916
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Discharged to duty from hospital
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Oct 16, 1916
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The battalion began the march to Hamilton,
Ontario to conduct winter training
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Nov 2, 1916
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The battalion arrived in Hamilton and moved into
the Westinghouse Barracks for the winter
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Nov 7, 1916
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Appointed to rank of Provisional Lance Corporal
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Apr 5, 1917
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The battalion boarded a train in Hamilton
destined for Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Apr 11, 1917
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Upon arrival in Halifax, the battalion embarked the
SS Carpathia
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Apr 22, 1917
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The battalion disembarked in Liverpool, England
and proceeded to the Otterpool Camp, West of Hythe in Kent and placed in Quarantine to
ensure the health of the battalion members. Following
the quarantine period, the battalion moved to East Sandling and was absorbed into the 2nd
Reserve Battalion to continue training
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May 27, 1917
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The 164th Battalion was separated
from the 2nd Reserve Battalion and moved to Witley with the intention of
forming part of the proposed 5th Canadian Division
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Feb 19, 1918
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Awarded the Good Conduct Badge
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Mar 8, 1918
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Attached to the 119th Battalion for
duty
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Mar 19, 1918
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Ceased to be attached and rejoined the 164th
Battalion
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Mar 29, 1918
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Following the decision to discard the 5th
Division, the battalion was broken up for reinforcements and Private King was transferred
to the 21st Battalion
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Mar 30, 1918
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Arrived at the CIBD
(Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21st
Battalion
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Apr 3, 1918
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Left the base depot and joined the CC Rein C
(Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp) in Calonne Ricouart as part of a draft of 98
reinforcements destined to join the 21st Battalion
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Apr 8, 1918
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Left the reinforcement camp and joined the 21st
Battalion in billets in Wailly, France as part of a draft of 44 reinforcements and
assigned to “B” Company
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Aug 8, 1918
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4 months after joining the battalion, William
King and the 21st Battalion were given the task of attacking Marcelcave and
capturing it from the Germans. This attack
was met with very heavy machine gun fire and the battalion’s Commanding Officer,
L/Col EW
Jones DSO was killed in action. Private
William King was first reported missing, but his body was subsequently found and buried in
the nearby Cachy Cemetery a few days later.
In late 1919 he was 1 of 10 Canadian soldiers
killed during the battle to be exhumed from the Cachy Cemetery and re-buried in the
Adelaide British Cemetery, Villers-Bretonneux, France
Following the war the British War Medal, Victory
Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny), Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent to his widow,
Mrs. Gertrude King, Georgetown, Ontario
A second Memorial Cross was sent to his mother,
Mrs. Alice Clara King, Georgetown, Ontario
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William King is honoured
on the Georgetown, Ontario War Memorial
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