William John King

Story:
William John King was born in Motcombe, Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 3 May 1874 the son of Alfred King and Ann King (nee Kerton).  He spent his early life at Elm Hill, Motcombe.  He had enlisted on 31 Dec 1895 and joined the Royal Marines (Service No. RM5763) and in 1911 was stationed in Portsmouth, Dorset.  He was at one time was a Gunner serving aboard HMS Ringdove.  It is not known in which other theatre's of war he served in and there are no other records of his service available including medal records though he was have qualified for at least the Victory and British War Medals and possibly the 1914/15 Star.  By the 1921 Census, following his discharge, he was back living with his widowed mother at 60 Elm Hill, Motcombe, and shown as 'Out of Work' though he had a Naval pension.   His death was recorded at the Shaftesbury, Dorset, Registry in 1936 and he was buried at Gillingham, Dorset, on 18 Nov 1936.