Stephen James King

Story:
Stephen James King was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 22 Oct 1884 and baptised there on 24 Nov 1884 the son of Edwin Charles King and Sarah Ann King (nee Mercer).  He spent his early life living in The Street, Motcombe. He married Eliza Jane Padfield in St. James Church, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 23 May 1909.  They set up home at 19 St. James Street, Shaftesbury.  Stephen enlisted and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 0523) and served with the 1/4th Battalion until he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry  (Service No. 17750).  It is not known in which theatre of war he served in but on his discharge on 14 Oct 1919 was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him living at 49 The Street, Motcombe, working as a Bricklayer's Labourer. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Minterne Parva, Dorchester, Dorset, working as an Estate Mason as well as a volunteer ARP Warden.  His death was recorded when living at The Lodge, Minterne Magna, Cerne Abbas, Dorset, on 24 Jun 1968.