⭕ D.S.O.(GVR),M.C.& Bar,Queens South Africa 1899-1902,5 bars,Cape Colony,Orange Free State,Transvaal,South Africa 1901,South Africa 1902(27044 Corpl.W.King 41st Coy Imp.Yeo.) 1914-15 Star (2.Lieut.G.W.King RFA), British War Medal 1914-1918 (Major G W King),British Victory Medal 1914-1919 (Major G W King),Special Constabulary Long Service Medal GVR 1st Type (George W King D.S.O. M.C.),Good Very Fine,Court mounted for wearing by Spink & Son Ltd.
George William King was born on January 4th 1881 in Brading, Hampshire.At some point the family moved to the North East of England and he was educated at Westoe Secondary School.He joined the Imperial Yeomanry Cavalry on a short service enlistment at Newcastle upon Tyne on January 31st 1901,for service in the South African War,listing his occupation as a grocer and his religion as Wesleyan.He listed three years prior service in the Durham Volunteer Artillery at the time of his enlistment.He proceeded to South Africa on 16th February 1901 as a member of the 41st Company Imperial Yeomanry (Northumberland Hussars). He was promoted to Corporal on 24th April 1901 and to Sergeant on 11th January 1902.Following the end of hostilities he returned to Britain on 11th August 1902.Upon discharge on 18th August 1902,his conduct and character were listed as very good, and his intended place of residence was 16 North Terrace Seaham Harbour,Durham.King moved to Sunderland in 1907.
It may well be that King was party to the foundation of the Lambton Street Scout Troop (Vauxs Own) given his Boer War experience and the fact that he was a Commissioner of the Sunderland Scouts for 17 years from 1908 until his retirement in 1925.Evidence suggests that this Scout Troop was formed by Colonel Ernest Vaux from the Sunderland Waifs Rescue Agency in January 1908,immediately after the publication of R.S.S. Baden-Powells book Scouting for Boys,and Baden-Powell himself inspected Vauxs Own Troop on 22nd February 1908.There is therefore good reason to believe not only that King was involved,but that this was the first official troop of Boy Scouts in the world.
Following the outbreak of the First World War,King joined the 5th West Riding Battery(Territorial Force) Royal Field Artillery,and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant on 15th March 1915,proceeding to France as a member of C Battery 160th Brigade RFA,attached to 34th Division,111 Corps.
He was recommended for the award of the Military Cross for his part in the Somme offensive,the Citation statingFrom 1st to 8th July and again from 11th to 14th July this officer acted as liaison officer with the infantry,first at Scots Redoubt,and then at Contalmaison.during 13th and 14th July this officer went out in front of the line under heavy shell fire to examine and report whether some German guns could be moved.The award was published in the London Gazette on September 22nd 1916.
King was promoted acting Captain on 1st February 1917,and took part in the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele),being recommended for a second award of the Military Cross for bravery during this battle by Lieut.Col.W M Warburton D.S.O.commander of 160th Brigade.The Citation states,among other things,that Within two hours of zero,he was in our newly captured front line and immediately took bearings on on all targets showing themselves and marked down positions where the enemy was moving about.To get to the front line Captain King had to pass through a terrific barrage and was continually sniped at in additionThe award was published in the London Gazette on 26th September 1917.
King was promoted Temporary Captain RFA on 9th February 1918 and Acting Major on 2nd September 1918.For heroism in the final offensive of the War,acting with great effectiveness as a Forward Observation Officer,as described in the illustrated Citation, he was recommended for the immediate award of the DSO, which was published in the London Gazette on 18th March 1919.In addition to these awards Major King was Mentioned in Despatches three times,published in the London Gazette on 22nd September 1916,23rd December 1918 and 7th July 1919.
After the war King became a successful businessman in the North East,Managing Director of Kings (Sunderland) Limited,clothing manufacturers,Chairman of Associated Grocers (Sunderland) Limited, President of the Sunderland and District Grocers Association. He was Vice Chairman of the Sunderland Branch of the British Legion for 15 years,from soon after its foundation.Whos Who in 1943 listed his recreations as boxing, hurdles,golf and motoring,and his residence as The Croft,West Hill,Sunderland. Major King died at the age of 66 in Sunderland Royal Infirmary in 1947 after a short illness.His funeral took place on 3rd July 1947,with full military honours,in St.Gabriels Church,Sunderland.
A magnificent triple gallantry group to a daring,courageous and public spirited man.There were a total of 57 awards of the DSO,MC and Bar to the entire British Army for the First World War.
Provenance:Sothebys June 30th 1988;Spink & Son Ltd 1989;Bostock Militaria May 2002,item 321/41 (receipt available);Sold with extensive research and three original Army Form W.3121 citations for MC,Bar to MC and DSO,mounted on card.