Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph King, a publican and carter, born 1866 in Walton on the Wolds, Leicestershire and his wife Mary King (nee Barnard, married in the 4th quarter of 1890 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district), born 1868 in Leicestershire. Bertie was born in the 3rd quarter of 1893 in Holwell, Leicestershire, his siblings were, George, born 1891, Frederick Harold, born 1892, Annie Elizabeth, born 1895 and Mary, born 1896, all his siblings were born in Holwell, also residing in the family home was Bertie’s widowed maternal Aunt, Elizabeth Weston, born 1838 in Long Clawson, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at Holwell. In the 4th quarter of 1904, in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district Bertie’s father died aged 38. In the 2nd quarter of 1906 in the Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire district, Bertie’s widowed mother married John Henry Marriott. In April 1911 Bertie was absent from the family home at Holwell, residing there was his stepfather John Marriott, an iron stone quarry worker, born 1878 in Holwell, his mother and half blood siblings, Ethel Mary Marriott, born 1907 and William Henry Marriott, born 1911, both half blood siblings were born in Holwell also residing in the family home was Bertie’s widowed maternal Aunt, Elizabeth Weston, Bertie was employed as a farm waggoner and was residing as a servant at Smith’s Lodge, Langham, Rutland.
Bertie attested into the Army Reserve for (3 years or the Duration of the War.) on the 2nd September 1914 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. He gave his place of birth as Holwell, Leicestershire his age as 21 years and 31 days and his trade or calling as labourer. He confirmed that he was unmarried. He gave his mother Mary Marriott of Holwell Melton Mowbray and his brother Frederick King of Colston Bassett, Leicestershire as his next of kin. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 3½ inches in height, weighed 131 pounds and he had a chest measurement of between 32½ and 34inches. His complexion was described as fresh, his hair colour was brown and he had grey eyes. He gave his religion as Wesleyan. He was pronounced fit for the Army Reserve on the 2nd September 1914 in Melton Mowbray. His record of service began when he joined the Depot of the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private, service number 8/12473 on the 2/9/14. Posted to the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Aldershot on the 24/9/14. Posted to Perham Down on the 8/4/15. Embarked from Folkestone to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 29/7/15. Admitted to the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station in Bailleul, suffering from a gunshot wound to the left thigh, in the field on the 20/8/15. Posted to the Depot on the 23/8/15. Admitted to the 8th General Hospital in Wimereux on the 23/8/15. Transferred to England per Hospital Ship St. Patrick on the -?-. Admitted to Edmonton Military Hospital on the 24/8/15. Admitted to Eastbourne Convalescent Hospital on the 27/9/15. Posted to the 10th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment at Rugeley Camp on the 18/10/15. Embarked to join the British Expeditionary Force in France on the 17/5/16. Posted to the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment on the 18/5/16. Joined the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, in the field on the 29/5/16. Killed in action, in the field, place not stated on the 17/7/16. A summary of his service records: Home Service, 2/9/14 – 28/7/15, 330 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 29/7/15 – 22/8/15, 25 days. Home Service, 23/8/15 – 17/5/16, 268 days. British Expeditionary Force, France, 18/5/16 – 17/7/16, 62 days. Total service 1 year and 320 days. Bertie was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals. The following information was provided by Bertie’s mother Mary Marriott on the 28th October 1919, and was witnessed and signed by -?- M.A., Clerk in Holy Orders, Ab Kettleby Vicarage, Melton on ARMY FORM W. 5080 (Information on deceased soldier’s family) Father of soldier, none. Mother of soldier, Mary Marriott of Holwell, Melton Mowbray. Full blood brother of soldier F. H. King, age 27 of 65, Rosebery Avenue, Melton Mowbray. Half blood brother of soldier, W. H. Marriott, age 8 of Holwell, Melton Mowbray. Full blood sister of soldier, Mrs. M. Parker, age 24 of Holwell, Melton Mowbray. Half blood sister of soldier, E. M. Marriott, age 12 of Holwell, Melton Mowbray. Bertie’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
The War Diary records: 14-17 Jul-16 - FRICOURT. The 110th Brigade attacked and captured BAZENTIN – LE – PETIT WOOD and village and held same. Appendix I. The action attached.
Narrative of action of the 6th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment from 3.00am 14/7/16 to 8.00am 17/7/16.
The Battalion moved from FRICOURT WOOD via the southern and eastern edge of MAMETZ WOOD and reached the north east corner of this wood just before 3.00am. The Battalion was formed in four lines by 3.15am under a fairly heavy bombardment and lined up with the 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on its left about 100 yards in front of MAMETZ WOOD. At 3.25am 1st and 2nd lines advanced on German first line, and five minutes later the third and fourth lines advanced, and, crossing first line, assaulted and took the German second line. The first German line was very much knocked about and some 25 or 30 prisoners were taken in it. The right Company blocked German first line trench on right of the attack, and also the same in the German second line. While crossing “No man’s” land the barrage was not very severe but the two right Companies suffered a good many casualties from enemy machine guns in BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD, which had not then been cleared by 7th Division on our right. There were also two enemy machine guns in the south east corner of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. These were charged by the third and fourth lines and the detachments killed, and the guns taken. There were not a large number of Germans in second line when it was entered. The trenches had been so knocked about that it was difficult to consolidate them. At 4.00am first and second lines, leaving small parties to deal with any dugouts, advanced to German second line, which was also being consolidated by the third and fourth lines. At 4.20am three platoons remained in German second line, and the rest of the Battalion advanced to the “one hour” line, which was reached after suffering a good many casualties from enfilade fire from the direction of BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD. Soon after this the enemy, retiring in front of the 7th Division from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD on our right, were enfiladed from the eastern edge of the wood by our Lewis guns, and suffered heavy losses. For some time the right Company had to form a defensive flank as many of the enemy were trying to get from BAZENTIN-LE-GRAND WOOD to BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD. At 5.20am the Battalion advanced to the “two hour” line and remained there till 6.00am, waiting for the 7th Division to come up on our right. At 6.00am the Battalion was reinforced by several platoons of the 9th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. At 6.05am the line advanced against the village, and, the left of the 7th Division not being up, the whole village was assaulted and taken, and 3 officers and 200 prisoners. At 6.40am the ROYAL IRISH RIFLES entered the village and the eastern portion was handed over to them. At 7.15am the Battalion occupied and began consolidating the line from the northern end of the village, thence southwards to the north eastern point of BAZENTIN-LE-PETIT WOOD, thence along northern edge of wood halfway to the railway. An attempt to get the real objective was heavily enfiladed from a point just outside the wood near the railway. About 50 prisoners were taken in a trench along northern edge of wood. At 8.30am the enemy made a counter attack against the northern portion of village. The 7th Division who were not very strong here fell back on cemetery. The Battalion conformed and held northern edge of wood and the prolongation of same through the village. At 9.15am the 7th Division were reinforced and retook eastern portion of village, and the Battalion resumed its previous line, joining up with the 7th Division north of the village. At 3.00pm the enemy made another counter attack against northern and north eastern edge of village. Many of them reached the road running from north end of village to railway and were at once stopped by our rifle and Lewis gun fire. The Battalion held and consolidated this position on the night of the 14th and also on the 15th there was no change. At 2.00am on the 16th a party of one officer and 50 men were sent out to try to consolidate the original objective along the road. They were preceded by a party of one officer and 40 men of the YORKSHIRE REGT. The latter party got to the road and held it for some time while our party was trying to consolidate, but were heavily bombed and enfiladed from enemy post just outside wood near railway, and was forced to retire. On the night of the 16th the Battalion was relieved by the 10th KING’S OWN YORKSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY and the Battalion went into bivouac just south of FRICOURT WOOD, arriving there at 1.00am the 17th instant. The Battalion suffered the following casualties 7 officers killed and 20 wounded. 500 other ranks killed, wounded and missing.
The War Diary records: 16 Jul-16 - 6th Battalion right supported by 9th LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. 7th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT. on left supported by 8th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGT.
War Diary records: 17 Jul-16 - The Battalion marched from FRICOURT WOOD at 7.45pm and arrived at RIBEMONT at 12.30am 18th July 1916.
On Friday August 11th 1916 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL AND DISTRICT NEWS.” – HOLWELL. – KILLED AT THE FRONT. It is our painful duty this week to report the death of Pte. Bertie King of this village, who was killed at the front on July 17th, Pte. King joined the Leicestershires soon after the commencement of the war, and took part in many engagements with conscientious bravery. Some time ago he returned to this country wounded, but on leaving the hospital after a brief stay at his home he returned to the front and was killed as above stated. Pte. King was a bright and cheerful character and was only 22 years of age, and his death has caused a wide feeling of sorrow and regret amongst his many friends in the district. He was a member of the Court Ab Kettleby Reliance of the Ancient Order of Foresters, and is the third member of this branch to lay down his life for his King and country. Several other members have been wounded, and three members of this branch are now prisoners somewhere in Germany. His mother has received letters of sympathy from the King, also Secretary of War intimating the sad news, and it will be some consolation to her and to the other members of the family that he died nobly doing his duty to his King and country.