A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces

Three: Acting Captain F. O. King, 44th (Manitoba) Battalion, Canadian Infantry, late Royal Horse Artillery, who was twice wounded

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (29523 Gnr. F. O. King, P.B., R.H.A.); British War and Victory Medals (A. Capt. F. O. King), generally very fine (3) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Fine Collection of Awards to the Canadian Forces.

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Frederick Osman King was born in Hungerford, Berkshire, England, on 4 November 1879 and, in a military career spanning 12 years, witnessed active service as a Gunner in ‘P’ Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, during the Boer War.

‘P’ Battery was employed on the lines of communication for a time, then took part in the rush to Kimberley and in General French's other operations up to the occupation of Pretoria. ‘G’ and ‘P’ then accompanied Broadwood in the ride from Kimberley to Koodoesrand Drift, and the first shell which fell among the wagons in the drift and spread consternation through Cronje's Commandos was fired by ‘P’ Battery. Next engaged under Clements in the action at Nooitgedacht 13 December 1900, the Battery helped to avert a total disaster by getting away its guns, though under very difficult circumstances, and was afterwards actively employed under Cunningham and French driving the Boers out of that district. Two guns were also engaged with Rawlinson in Western Transvaal, so, too, under Colonel Hickie in the same region.

Emigrating to Canada, he found employment as a Fireman at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where he enlisited in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in May 1916.

Originally commissioned in the 65th Battalion, he was allocated to the 44th (Manitoba) Battalion out in France in August 1916, where he was twice wounded - namely at Courcelette on the Somme on 25 October of the same year, when he was hit by a bullet in the left thigh, and on 10 August 1918, when he received another bullet wound in the thigh, this time being evacuated to England.

He was discharged in the acting rank of Captain back in Ottawa in November 1919; sold with copied service papers.