JOHN HENRY KING
1888 – 1977
The eldest son of James King and Aida Maria Ireland was born in 1888, lived at Dunstone and attended Widecombe School. John had two younger brothers, Owen and George, although the tallest of the King boys he only measured 5ft 6inches in height.
In September 1915, just before conscription was introduced John followed his younger brother Owen in to the Royal Navy. Like all recruits from the West Country he completed his basic training at HMS Vivid in Devonport.
John was posted to HMS Bellerophon, the ship upon which he spent his whole naval career. In 1916 HMS Bellerophon took part in the largest sea battle of the Great War, the Battle of Jutland. Following this action Bellerophon took part in patrols in the North Sea and Atlantic but was not involved in any other major battles during the War.
John Henry was demobbed in 1919.
He married Mary H Cock in 1921 and they lived in the Newton Abbot area until John died in 1977 aged 88.
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