Home  |   The Great War  |   Second World War  |   Other Conflicts  |   Useful Links  |   Contact Us

 

Lieutenant Kenneth Vivian KING
C Flight, 52 Squadron, Royal Air Force Date of birth: 5th December 1896 Date of death: 30th July 1918 Killed in action aged 21 Buried at Varennes Military Cemetery Plot III Row B Grave 23
Kenneth Vivian King was born at 2, The Vineyard, Abingdon in Berkshire on the 5th of December 1896 the son of George Edward King, a veterinary surgeon, and Maude Amelia (nee Parmenter) King of 2 The Vineyard, Abingdon. He was educated at Abingdon School from March 1906 to April 1909, where he was a member of the school swimming team. He went on to Magdalen College School from May to December 1909 and to Lancing College where he was in Olds House from January 1910 until July 1913. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps. On leaving school he worked for his father as an apprentice veterinary surgeon. He enlisted at Dukes Road, Euston Road as Private 765274 in the 2/28th (County of London) Battalion (Artists Rifles) on the 8th of December 1915. At a medical examination, which was held on the same day, it was recorded that he was five feet eight inches tall and that he weighed eight stones. He was called up on the 3rd of February 1917 and was posted to D Company, Hut 3 at Hare Hall Camp, Romford in Essex. He applied for a commission in the Royal Flying Corps on the 22nd of February 1917 in an application which was supported by Mr. H.T. Clarke, Mayor of Abington and by the Reverend Bowlby, Head Master of Lancing College. He was posted for training at the School of Military Aeronautics at Reading on the 2nd of April 1917. On the 1st of June 1917 he was posted for flight training at the Beatty School in Cricklewood and obtained his Aero Certificate (No. 4977) on the 14th of July 1917 flying a Beatty-Wright biplane. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on probation in the Royal Flying Corps General List on the 1st of June 1917 and was confirmed in his rank on the 11th of October 1917. On the 17th of July 1917 he was posted to 50 Training Squadron and was appointed as a Flying Officer on the 21st of September. On the 27th of September he was posted for further training at the Wireless and Observers School and on the 30th of October he was posted to 82 Squadron. Upon joining the Royal Flying Corps he flew Caudrons, Armstrong Whitworth (Smallthorpe ), BE2C and RE8 aircraft. On the 5th of December 1917 he was posted to 2 Aeroplane Supply Depot and on the 10th of December he was posted to 53 Squadron, part of the Home Establishment. On the 19th of February 1918 he was posted to 16 Training Squadron and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 1st of April 1918. On the 22nd of May 1918 he was posted to 52 Squadron where he joined C Flight in France on the 20th of June 1918. At 9.25am on the 30th of July 1918 Kenneth King and his Observer, 2nd Lieutenant John Kelly, took off with other aircraft of their squadron in RE8 C5056 for a mission to bomb a German Divisional Headquarters. They became engaged in combat with hostile aircraft and were shot down in flames to the south west of Albert at 11.30 by Vizefeldwebel Michael Hutterer of Jagdstaffel 23. They were his third victory of an eventual eight. Theirs was one of four aircraft from 52 Squadron shot down during the operation. He is commemorated on the war memorial at Abingdon School.

Olds House