Military History

Embarked at Fremantle per HMAT ‘Ascanius’ A11 for Egypt 2.11.1914
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit ‘B’ Coy. 11th Battalion 3rd Brigade Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
King disembarked with the 11th Battalion in Egypt. They trained for 4 months, then entrained for Alexandria, joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) embarked per ‘Suffolk’ for Lemnos 2.3.1915. The Battalion transferred to SS ‘London’ and proceeded to Gallipoli on 24.4.1915. ‘B’ Company 11th Battalion landed on 25.4.1915 and fought on the beachhead and at Gaba Tepe. On May 5th, an advance 'party  of 100 men with details of Engineers under Cptn R.H. Leanne and Lieut. Rockcliffe were landed at Kaba (sic) Tepe with the object of ascertaining  what was left in the fort and destroying any instruments.' (AWM 11th Bn. War Diaries)  The party was subject heavy machine gun and rifle fire and was forced to withdraw. 2nd Lieut Thompson and 4 others were killed and  Lieut. Rockcliffe and 19 others were wounded in this action. King was KIA 2.5.1915 (West Australian Newspaper 15.6.1915). There is photographic evidence of a burial site, however, this was lost over time and the place of burial was not located by the War Graves Commission. King is commemorated at Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Cannakkale Province, Turkey.
Final Rank Private 11th Battalion Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Photos  H J King . KIA.  Photograph sourced Western Mail 9.7.19165 p5 
               HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph source AWM H16157  
               Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph source AWM P2194.00
               Gallipoli Graves of Gibbs left and H. J. King on right 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source H16972
               Lone Pine Memorial Gallipoli 1936. Photograph donor J. Richter, photograph source AWM P02768.007

Information Source
AWM  H16157. HMAT 'Ascanius' 1914. Photographer E.L. Mitchell, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  P2194.005. Australian Troops being towed ashore at Gallipoli. Photographer R.M. Bowman photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM  H16972. Gallipoli Graves of Gibbs left and H.J. King on right 1915. Photographer unknown, photograph source
AWM  P02768.007. Lone Pine Memorial Gallipoli 1936. Photograph donor J. Richter, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM Embarkation Roll Herbert John King
AWM Roll of Honour- Herbert John King
AWM4-23/28/2. 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary. May 1915
NAA: B2455 King H J
West Australian Newspaper
Western Mail



Swan Meat Company, James Street, Guildford. WA.

Associated Images