24
« on: Saturday 01 September 12 15:41 BST (UK) »
My grandfather, Kenric Vincent King, was born in Dorchester on Thames, Oxon, about 1881.
He married my grandmother, Amelia Simpson, in Dublin in 1909.
At the time my mother, Alice Mary King, was born (1911) he was serving as a private in the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment and was living in married quarters, Western Heights, Dover, U.D.
At some point the family moved to Dublin, and he lived there until his death in 1950.
I have been trying to put together some coherent picture of his life, but am unable to ascertain the circumstances of his move to Ireland. His siblings continued to live in Dorchester on Thames, and contact with them was maintained until his death. Thereafter it lapsed, and I am unaware of any descendants that may be there (or elsewhere).
I wrote to the Regiment's museum and received a very kind reply. Sadly it indicated that there was no extant record of my grandfather's service. It appears that many records were destroyed in the Blitz in the Second World War. My hope had been that would be some hints to glean, in particular whether or not he served in the Great War. There was never any mention of this in the family. Equally there was never any mention of his nephew, Horace King, who served in the 5th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and who was killed in action in France or Flanders on 25th September, 1915. Horace is commemorated on the Menin Gate at Ypres and on the War Memorial in Dorchester. So, the lack of mention could mean something or nothing...
I was unable to find any reference to him in the 1911 Census.
It strikes me that there may be something to be learned of his relocation/s from the posting of my grandfather's regiment. Could it have been posted to Dublin? I am aware, of course that these were very troubled times in Ireland. On the other hand, he could have served his term and have been a civilian again. In this case, had he moved to Ireland before the outbreak of war, he would likely not have been liable for call up as there was no conscription there. All mysterious and, perhaps, a little curious.
I would be grateful if anyone could suggest other likely paths to follow so that I can piece together more information about my grandfather, and in particular about the period between my last record of him in England (my mother's birth certificate - 1911) and his move to Ireland.
For the reason stated in my previous paragraph it seems to me that this is the proper county in which to post this enquiry. If not, please excuse me, and perhaps a moderator would advise me.
Show Posts
