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211800Pte. Percival Frederick King
British Army First Eastern General Hospital Royal Army Medical Corps
from:7 De Greville Avenue Cambridge
Percy King was from a technically minded family, two of his brothers were car mechanics and engine fitters and worked in the Family Business, King and Harper in Cambridge,(This business was started by their Father, William King, who was also Chief Engineer in a scheme running tractors for the Board of Agriculture during WW1). However Percy did not go into the family business and became a scientific instrument maker and worked for the Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company.On 18 November 1913 he joined the RAMC (TF) for 4 Years service and he worked at the First Eastern General Hospital (1191 other ranks beds and 151 Officers Beds) in Cambridge the entire time until his on discharge 17 November 1917. Even though it was the height of the war, he was released for essential war work (making instruments) back at his old company, instead of being re-enlisted. His elder brother 2nd Lt Reginald King 48425 was also in the Army (RFC)and served as a pilot, and one of his younger brothers Private Augustus King 202906 was an engine fitter in the Army Service Corps.
Percy was one of the many soldiers who survived the war unscathed and did not see front-line action but did essential work on the home front. He was my uncle and although he married, he never had any children to research or tell his story.
Additional Information:
I have now found out that Percy did carry on in the Army after his official discharge from the RAMC TF in November 1917. He was released for civilian work from the RAMC (while still in the Army) on 13 September 1915 for work at Cambridge Scientific Instruments. He was then officially discharged from the RAMC TF on 17 November 1917 to work at Cambridge Scientific Instruments as a civilian as his 4 years Territorial service was up. However soon after it seems he re-joined the Army and served in the RASC.He was Gazetted as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant from Cadet on 8 July 1918. He then served abroad from 20 September 1918 and got the following medals. The Territorial War Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. I have photos of him in his officers uniform. He did see action, not as I previously thought.
Geoff King
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