No.14207, Private, Harry James KING
Aged 24
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Harry James King was born in Cheveley on 18th January 1891 (Newmarket Q1-1891 3B:536), privately baptised 31st January 1904 in Cheveley, son of Robert and
Rachel Emily KING (née WOODROFFE). 1891 census...Aged 2 months, he was at Cheveley Street, Cheveley with his father Robert KING [36) farm labourer, born Soham; his mother Rachel E. [36] born Chippenham; sisters Emily [13] born Soham, Florence [6] and Elizabeth [3] both born in Cheveley, and brothers William [11] born Soham and Percy Edward [8] born Herringswell. 1901 census...Aged 10, he was at Main Street, Cheveley with his parents, brothers William (stud groom) and Percy (farm labourer), sisters Elizabeth and Gertrude [3] born Cheveley. 1911 census...Aged 20, a farm labourer he was at Cheveley Street with his parents, brother Percy Edward (farm labourer), sister Gertrude Irene and brother George William [7] born Cheveley. The family later moved to 5 Broad Green, Cheveley. Harry's elder brother Edward Percy KING was killed at Loos in 1915. |
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He enlisted in Newmarket. The third day of the Somme, the 7th Suffolks took part in a frontal attack at Ovillers (a few miles east of Albert). Zero hour was 03:15 am but the battalion attacked in 8 successive waves starting ten minutes earlier. They got as far as the enemies third line, some even getting into the village. Then communications were lost and the Germans managed to cut them off. Stiff resistance led the attack being brought to a standstill. All of the Company commanders had been killed. Casualties of all ranks numbered 470 of these 157 were killed, 44 buried in Ovillers and `112, with no known grave, named on the Thiepval memorial. At least 4 other local men fell, Frank Aley, Ernest Hobbs and Walter Leonard from Newmarket, and William Pitches from Exning. .
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
