Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John King was born on 10 March 1892 at Timaru, the second son of John and Helen (Ellen, née McLaren) King. John and Helen who had married in 1888, had four sons and three daughters, all born at Timaru, where John was a grocer. One son, Gabriel Alan King (Alan) died in 1899, a week after his third birthday. The other six children were educated at Timaru Main School and all reached adulthood. Young John may have received a Third-class certificate of merit for Standard III in 1901, his sister Jessie also among the prize recipients. The prizes were distributed after addresses and entertainment. J. King – father or son? – scored well with an essay on the first part of the “Pilgrim’s Progress”, one of the activities marking the anniversary of Trinity Presbyterian Church, Timaru in October 1907. His sister Nellie was a prize winner in the Middle Division. Mr John King was very active in Trinity Church. In September 1908 Mr John King resigned his membership of the South Canterbury chamber of Commerce as he was leaving the district. His very successful business was sold, along with the valuable site and building where it was conducted. By April 1909 Mr John King, of Timaru, had purchased a 600-acre farm in the Ashburton district. He soon had a fine crop of lambs on his farm at Ealing. Mr John King, of Ealing but formerly of Timaru, had to go to a private hospital in Timaru in mid-August 1911 for an operation. He was soon making satisfactory progress towards recovery. John, junior, and his older brother James Guthrie King (known as Guthrie) joined their father in farming “Strathmore Farm” at Ealing. Both were there when they were listed on the World War One Reserve Rolls. It appears that Mr and Mrs King kept a house in Timaru when they were farming at Ealing.

John King was medically examined on 16 April 1916, probably at Timaru. He stood at 5 feet 10 inches, weighed 166 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35-37½ inches, a fair complexion fair, grey eyes and brown hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal. He was free of illnesses and diseases, was vaccinated, and was in good bodily and mental health. A good crowd from far and near gathered at the Ealing goods-shed on 27 April 1916 for a social to give a send-off to five young men who had enlisted for the front, John King one of them. The social which started by singing the National Anthem, was kept up with songs and dancing until the small hours of the morning. Before the supper was served, which was provided by the ladies, four of the men were presented with a safety razor, and were urged to “do their best for the good old Flag”. They were also presented with some useful articles from the Ladies’ Guild.

When John King attested on 4 May 1916 at Trentham, he was serving with the Mounted Signal Troop and had registered at Hinds for compulsory military training. A self-employed farmer at Ealing, single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next-of-kin - Mrs J. King, 41 Buchanan Street, Timaru. This was to be changed later to his father - Mr John King, 72 Rathmore Street, Timaru.

Posted as corporal to the 18th Reforcements on 5 May 1916, he was promoted to sergeant on 3 July. In mid-September 1916 at a send-off in the Hinds Hall, Sergeant J. King and Corporal W. Rogers were presented with a set of military brushes in a case, on behalf of the Hinds Signal Company. The recipients suitably responded, after which there was a very enjoyable concert.

Sergeant J. King embarked with the Auckland Infantry Battalion of the 18th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington on 11 October 1916 per the “Tofua”. Disembarking at Plymouth, England on 29 December 1916, he marched in to Sling on 29 December 1916, where he was posted to the 2nd Auckland Company and reverted to the rank of temporary corporal. Corporal John King marched out and proceeded overseas to France on 11 February 1917 where he marched into camp at Etaples and was attached to the Strength of the New Zealand Infantry. Before long, however, on 11 April 1917, he was admitted to the 24th General Hospital in France – not yet diagnosed. Embarking for England per the Hospital Ship “Brighton” on 24 April, he was admitted to the 2nd New Zealand General Hospital at Walton-on-Thames Hospital – slight pneumonia. After discharge to Furlough (duty at 1st NZGH) on 28 July 1917, he was re-admitted to the 2nd New Zealand General Hospital at Walton-on-Thames on 2 August – lobar pneumonia.

Corporal John King embarked at Avonmouth on 8 August 1917 per the Hospital Ship “Maheno” to return to New Zealand, one of 371 sick and wounded soldiers who arrived home on 19 September 1917. His was a phthisical case. A social was held in October 1917 in the Ealing goods shed to give a send-off to three local men, and a welcome home to Corporal J. King who was presented with a gold medal. Refreshments were provided by the ladies and dancing was kept up until the small hours of the morning. He was discharged on 16 December 1917, no longer physically fit for War Service on account of pre-enlistments disability aggravated by Active Service, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Initially his address was 72 Rathmore Street, Timaru, but later was C/o Dr Byles, Waipiata Sanatorium, Ranfurly, Otago Central [January 1921]. It was likely at the Waipiata Sanatorium that John King met Honor Balkind, who had nursed there for some time. John and Honor married in November 1920. She then became his next-of-kin - Mrs Honor King, C/o Mr John King (father), 72 Rathmore Street, Timaru, and later of Woodlands Park, Ranfurly, Otago Central. Honor was probably born in Australia, her father from Lithuania and her mother from Australia. Her parents and most siblings moved to New Zealand in the early 1910s. Nurse Balkind travelled between Melbourne and Bluff in 1912. Miss H. Balkind, St Bathans, gave to the British Red Cross Fund in November 1918 and to the fund to provide bagpipes and drums for the Otago Battalions in France in December 1918. John and Honor were at the Sanatorium at Waipiata in 1922. John was a pensioner, care of Dr Byers, Ranfurly, while Honor was at “Woodlands Park”, Ranfurly. Then in 1928, Honor was at 168 Forbury Road, Dunedin, a widow.

John King died on 1 January 1928 at St Clair, Dunedin, aged 35 years 9 months. He was the beloved husband of Honor King and son of Mr John King, of Rathmore Street, Timaru. “From cross to Crown.” His funeral left 168 Forbury Road, St Clair at 8.30am on 3 January, by motor for Timaru, passing the railway station, Timaru, at 2pm, for interment in the Timaru Cemetery. His death was due to TB of the spine and testicle, sarcoma of the abdominal glands with metastasis to the neck and chest. John was buried in the family plot at Timaru with military honours. His name is inscribed on the family stone, and a services stone also marks his grave.

At the meeting of the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association (Dunedin) on 9 January 1928, a motion of sympathy with the widow of 22193 John King was passed. “Mr King had patiently born a long and painful illness due to war injuries, and during that period he had been visited by the Prince of Wales, Viscount Jellicoe, Sir Charles Fergusson and the Duke of York. The members carried the motion by standing in silence.” Indeed, the Duke had visited John King, as reported in the Evening Star of 19 March 1927. “It is in the little acts of sympathy and appreciation that have endeared the Duke of York to the people. Yesterday His Royal Highness was responsible for one of many charming acts of concern for the afflicted. He had been informed that a returned soldier had been on his back in a convalescent hospital for four years and a-half, the spinal trouble having been due to war injuries. It was suggested that His Royal Highness should pass the home in his car, and the soldier, who would be on the verandah, would have an opportunity of seeing him. His Royal Highness immediately expressed his opinion that a mere passing was not sufficient, and he desired that a rearrangement should be made in his programme so that he could make a personal call on the soldier. This was arranged for, and yesterday afternoon, after a busy tour of factories, the Duke motored with the mayor to Mrs Nevill’s Convalescent Home at the comer of Valpy street and Forbury road, St. Clair. Here they were shown to the bedside of the invalid, who is Mr John King. The Duke chatted to the soldier for over fifteen minutes, during which time he sympathised deeply with Mr King, and expressed the hope that he would soon he restored to health. The visit was made unostentatiously, and it was the Duke’s express desire that formalities should be waived. A soldier lying on a sick bed is Dunedin’s happiest man to-day. The Duke has brought joy once again to the unfortunately afflicted.”

In October 1928, the Defence Committee recommended that the petition of Honor King, of Dunedin, for a compassionate allowance owing to loss incurred in nursing her late husband, a returned soldier, should be referred to the Government for inquiry. Honor King returned to Ranfurly (“Woodlands Park”), hosting visitors and providing support to grieving families. Mrs Balkind King frequently visited Dunedin, before settling back in South Dunedin in about 1938. She also gained first aid qualifications. Some time after 1950, Honor returned to her native Australia. Hannah Balkind-King died on 5 February 1955 at Mentone, Victoria, aged 65, and was buried in the Jewish section of Fawkner memorial Park Cemetery, Melbourne (her name in Hebrew being Chana). Hanna King (commonly known as Honor Balkind-King) signed her Will on 9 August 1950 in Dunedin. It went to probate in April 1956, the Public Trustee administering her property in New Zealand. She made specific bequests to a friend (who was residing with her as of August 1950, a physician, and a Reverend and his wife. It was her desire that “my body be cremated and that my name be added at the expense of my estate to those of my father and my mother on their tomb at Linwood Cemetery Christchurch.” (Her father died in 1924 and her mother in 1941. Hannah’s name has not been inscribed on their stone).

John King’s brother James Guthrie King was called up, his name having been drawn in the fourth ballot in February 1917. The King family suffered immense grief in late 1918-early 1919. James Guthrie King, the eldest son, died on 24 November 1918 at Ealing, aged 29 years; Jessie King, the eldest daughter, died on 28 November 1918 at Ealing, aged 28 years; Mrs Helen (Ellen) King died on 21 February 1919 at Strathmore Farm, Ealing, aged 56 years. All three are buried in a double plot at Timaru Cemetery. Were they victims of the influenza epidemic? After Helen’s death, John lived at his Timaru residence (72 Rathmore Street). John King, senior, married Clara Emma Grant Wilkes in 1922. He died on 25 January 1936 and was buried at Timaru, close to the family plot. At the meeting of the Timaru Presbytery in February 19136, it was agreed to send a letter of condolence to the widow and family of Mr John King, and members stood in silence out of respect. He had been an elder of Trinity Church and a former member of the Presbytery. John King had signed his Will in March 1926, making provision for his wife (Clara), his daughters Nellie King and Elizabeth Victoria King (Vic), and his sons John King and Kenneth Alexander King (Ken). As is known, his son John predeceased him. Nellie King died unmarried in 1963. Kenneth King married in 1945 and died in 1983; Elizabeth Victoria King married in 1928 and died in 1987. Clara Emma Grant King who was much younger than John died in 1962.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [09 June 2014]; NZ Defence Force Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0064603) [04 September 2016]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG); Timaru Cemetery headstone images (Timaru District Council) [09 June 2014; 09 September 2024]; Timaru Herald, 20 December 1901, 28 October 1907, 14 & 30 September 1908, 13 April 1909, 4 October 1909, 12 March 1910, 23 August 1911, 14 February 1917, 18 September 1917, 25 & 27 November 1918, 22 February 1919, 3 January 1928, 27 January 1936, 5 February 1936, Ashburton Guardian, 10 May 1916, 18 September 1916, 13 February 1917, 17 September 1917, 15 October 1917, Otago Daily Times, 3, 4 & 11 January 1928, 10 October 1928 [x 2], 23 August 1935, 29 June 1936, Evening Star, 3 January 1928, 23 August 1935, Otago Witness, 4 & 10 January 1928 (Papers Past) [04 September 2016; 09 & 10 September 2024]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [04 September 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [04 September 2016; 09 September 2024]; Victoria, Australia death registration and cemetery record (per ancestry.com.au) [10 September 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• KING John - newspaper clippings (pdf, 77.1 KB updated 24-Sep-2024)

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