22/193 Sergeant John King, 9/3/1892-1/1/1928.

 

Personal

At last night’s meeting of the executive of the Returned Soldiers’ Association a motion of sympathy with the widow of 22/193 Private 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.   -Otago Daily Times, 11/1/1928.

1928 is a very long time after the Great War to be dying of its effects.  So what killed John King?  My initial guess was tuberculosis and that was confirmed by my first look at his Army Record, courtesy of NZ Archives.  The small sheet of paper on top of the first record page, the one which records the details of the medals presented to him, shows his address as being at the Waipiata Sanatorium.

Further into his record, it can be seen that he was discharged as "no longer physically fit for war service on account of pre-enlistment disability aggravated by active service."  He had spent about two months in all on active service before contracting pneumonia and being evacuated to Britain. In August of 1917 he was sent home on the HS "Maheno."

And, just above, "Died since discharge at Dunedin 2/1/1928 TB spine and testicle, sarcoma of abdominal glands with metastasis to neck and chest."  

John King took eleven years to die.

When the Duke of York was in Dunedin he was 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 in the afternoon, after a busy tour of factories, the Duke motored with the Mayor to Mrs Nevill’s Convalescent Home at the corner of Valpy street and Forbury road, St. Clair. Here they were shown to the bedside of the invalid who is Mr John, (a son of Mr John King, Rathmore Street, Timaru.) 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 be restored to health. The visit was made unostentatiously, and it was the Dnke’s express desire that formalities should be waived. The Duke brought joy once again to the unfortunately afflicted.  -Timaru Herald, 9/4/1927.

Deaths

KING. — On January 1, 1928, at St. Clair, 22/193 Sergeant John King, late of 8th Reinforcements, N.Z.E.F., and beloved husband of Honor King and son of Mr John King, of Rathmore street, Timaru: aged 35 years. “From Cross to Crown.” — Interred this day at Timaru, with military honors. R. McLean and Son, undertakers.  -Evening Star, 3/1/1928.

Timaru Cemetery.

 

As can be seen on the family stone below, John King lost a brother and sister, two days apart, in November, 1918.  It is possible that tuberculosis ran in the family.  It is also possible that they both died during the pandemic of Spanish influenza.

Timaru Cemetery.