KING, Alec
Lieutenant, Alec Pearman KING
Aged 22
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Born in Exning in Q4-1893 [Newmarket 3b:511] to William Parr and Annie Jane KING (née FOREMAN) of Oxford Street, Exning. 1901 census...Alec [7] was at Oxford Street, Exning with his father William [35] a building contractor; his mother Annie [34] brothers Reginald [9] and Leslie [3] and sisters Gertrude [2] and Audrey [1]. The whole family were Exning born. 1911 census...At the Wheatsheaf, Exning were Alec [17]a pupil teacher in the primary school, and his parents, brother Leslie William[13] Alfred Noel [7] born Exning and Philip Parr [6] born Exning and sisters Gertrude and Audrey. Brother Reginald had left home His elder brother Reginald died 3 years after Alec and they are together in Exning Cemetery. Alec's entry in "Our Exning Heroes" reads as follows: King, A.P. 12th Suffolk Regiment - Lieut. Alec Pearman King was trained as a pupil teacher, under Mr. A.H. Whitaker, in the Exning Council School, and after a course at Bristol Training College attached to Bristol University, obtained a certificate in the summer of 1914. While at Bristol he joined the Gloucestershire Territorials, so that at the outbreak of war he found himself in the ranks of an Army on active service. He was soon made a Sergeant and went out to France with the Gloucestershires. On August 12th he was gazetted as 2nd Lieutenant, and seven months later he gained his second star. Unfortunately for his Army career he was struck down by trench rheumatism and invalided home. He was making a rapid recovery when he met his death in a most distressing manner. A party of sportsmen, of which he was one, were out rabbit shooting on the Grange Farm, Chippenham, when through some mischance, the charge in his own gun exploded, and the shot tore through his armpit, causing him shortly afterwards to die from loss of blood. He was buried in Exning Cemetery, and the Last Post was sounded over his grave. He had been recommended for promotion the day before his accident. He was a very good athlete, playing for Exning United Football Club, and rendered conspicuous service in many a keenly played game. He was also an excellent runner, and won several prizes at Newmarket and other places. The Bury Free Press of 21st October 1916 reported:- EXNING - FATAL ACCIDENT Deep regret and sorrow are felt in Exning at the tragic death of Lieut.A.Kingm Suffolk Regiment, second son of W.P.King, builder etc., of Exning. The accident occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday week. The deceased who was staying with his parents at Exning for a few days leave, was out shooting with a party of friends at Chippenham. During a rest which they made deceased was standing with the muzzle of his gun under his armpit, when by some mischance the weapon went off, causing a terrible wound in the shoulder of the unfortunate young man. Dr. Norman Gray of Newmarket was sent for, but found there was no hope of saving the young man's life, death taking place some 20 minutes afterwards through exhaustion from loss of blood. The funeral took place onMonday afternoon. The coffin, which was covered with a Union Jack and borne by soldiers, was met by the Vicar and choir at the church gates..... |
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Alec enlisted in the 4th Gloucesters, a Territorial Battalion on 1st October 1912 [No. 1945]. He was mobilised on the 4th August 1914 and went to France via
Southampton to Le Havre on 25th June 1915. He was commissioned into the Suffolk Regiment on 12th August 1915. They were in the line at Calonne at the end of June and
then moved to the Lens area, into trenches at Maroc where they were to remain for four months, four days in the line and four days in support Taken ill in France in July 1916 he was evacuated on the "St Denis" from Boulogne to Dover on 24th July. He was in the 4th London Hospital, Denmark Hill on 2nd August 1916. He was back in Exning for a 4 week convalescent leave during which time he had the accident that killed him, as recounted in "Our Exning Heroes" above. |
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