George Augustus King
New Zealand Military Forces officer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lieutenant-Colonel George Augustus King DSO & Bar (3 March 1885 – 12 October 1917) was a New Zealander who served in the New Zealand Military Forces during the First World War.
George Augustus King | |
---|---|
Born | (1885-03-03)3 March 1885 Christchurch, New Zealand |
Died | 12 October 1917(1917-10-12) (aged 32) † Passchendaele salient, Belgium |
Allegiance | New Zealand |
Service/ | New Zealand Military Forces |
Rank | Lieutenant-Colonel |
Commands held | New Zealand Pioneer Battalion 1st Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | First World War |
Awards | Distinguished Service Order and Bar Croix de Guerre |
Born in Christchurch, King worked in surveying and farming before he became a professional soldier in New Zealand's Permanent Forces in 1910. He volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force following the outbreak of the First World War. After participating in the Gallipoli Campaign, he was selected by the commander of the newly formed New Zealand Division, Major General Russell, for command of the New Zealand Pioneer Battalion on the Western Front. He later commanded a battalion in the Canterbury Infantry Regiment and was killed in action during the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917.