John Joseph King

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Grave/Memorial:  		King, John J

1876, Jersey, Channel Islands

Joseph (née )

"H" Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

L.4626

Sergeant

14 September 1914, Vendresse, Ardennes, France, age 38

Unknown. La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France 		   

Biography:
John Joseph King was born on Jersey in the Channel Islands, in 1876. He was the son of John Joseph and (née ).

John joined the Royal Sussex Regiment in April 1894, when he was eighteen. He was already serving with the 3rd Battalion (Militia). He gave his trade as ‘groom’. He stood 5 feet 3½ inches tall and weighed 121 pounds; his complexion was described as ‘fresh’, he had grey eyes and dark brown hair.

In July 1894, John was posted to the 1st Battalion. He was promoted to Lance-corporal in February 1996. In December 1896, John was posted to the 2nd Battalion and deployed to India, where he served until 1907.

John had signed on for 7 years plus 5 years in the Reserves; in October 1901, he extended his service to 12 years with the colours. He was promoted to Corporal two months later.

In November 1902, John was posted back to the 1st Battalion (remaining in India whilst the 2nd Battalion returned home). In March 1903, he passed the examination for promotion to Sergeant. In November 1903, he extended his service again to 21 years. John was promoted to Lance-Sergeant on 31 January 1905 and to Sergeant on 1 March 1905.

In 1904, John returned to the UK on leave and married Caroline Peters at Hove, Sussex. She joined him in India and their two children were both born there.

John and his family returned to the UK in December 1907. John was posted to the 2nd Battalion at Chichester.

In January 1912, the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, moved into Inkerman Barracks. The Battalion left in May 1914 but, following the outbreak of war, returned to be joined by their reservists and conduct pre-deployment training. The Battalion landed in France in August 1914.

John Joseph King was killed on 14 September 1914, during the Battles of the Aisne. His final resting place is unknown; his name, along with others of his regiment, is on La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial to the Missing, France.



The La Ferté-sous-Jouarre Memorial commemorates 3,740 officers and men of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who fell at the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne between the end of August and early October 1914 and have no known graves.

The monument is constructed of white Massangis stone and surmounted by a sarcophagus onto which military trophies are laid. At the four corners of the pavement on which the monument stands are stone columns supporting urns which bear the coats of arms of the four constituent nations of the United Kingdom. The memorial is situated on land provided by Adrien Fizeau, sometime Mayor of Jouarre, in memory of his father, Hippolyte Fizeau, the distinguished scientist, Member of the Institut de France and of the Royal Society. It was designed by George H Goldsmith, a decorated veteran of the Western Front, and unveiled, on 4 November 1928, by Sir William Pulteney, who had commanded the III Corps of the BEF in 1914.