King, Silas
6531 Private Silas King - 11th Battalion AIF
Silas King was born in Fremantle WA on the 24th July 1889 to Silas and Sarah King, being one of nine siblings born into the family.
He was educated in Fremantle and the family were living at 52 By the Sea Road South Fremantle (renamed to Jenkin Street in 1910). During his school years, Silas had served in the cadet scheme. After leaving school he took up work as a labourer. Silas was working as a farm hand near Merriden up to 1916.
On the 14th March 1916 Silas enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was accepted as fit for service, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;
Height - 5 feet 11 & 1/2 inches tall;
Weight - 147lbs;
Chest Measurement - 34-36 inches;
Complexion - Fair;
Eyes - Blue;
Hair - Brown.
After his successful enlistment, Silas was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to the infantry training depot. He spent ten days being taken through the basics of infantry work and was then assigned to the 20th Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. He trained with this group in WA for three months but was then transferred to the 21st Reinforcements to the 11th Battalion AIF. He had another two and half months with this group in WA.
On the 10th October 1916 Silas and his group entrained to Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Suffolk. The ship then set sail for England, reaching Plymouth on the 2nd December 1916. After being disembarked, Silas and his group were sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington Camp.
Silas would be in England for the next three months undertaking further training. On the 4th February 1917 he was sent across to France and was sent into the 1st Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples. He only had a few days here and joined the 11th Battalion on the 10th February 1917.
The 11th battalion were then situated on the Somme battlefield. On the 27th/29th February 1917, the 11th battalion supported the 12th Battalion in their capture of Le Barque. The Germans launched a torrent of shellfire on the Australian positions and Silas was wounded by shrapnel in the leg from a high explosive shell. He was initially treated at the 1st Australian Field Ambulance before being taken to the 45th Casualty Clearing Station. From there he was put on an ambulance train to Etaples where he was admitted to the St John's Ambulance hospital. He was a patient there till the 11th March 1917 when he was shipped to England.
Upon arrival, Silas was sent to Cambridge Hospital and remained there till the 24th April 1917. He was then sent to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Southall, which specialised in limb injuries. On the 3rd May 1917 Silas was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. He spent a month here and was then transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. While he was here Silas went absent without leave from the 9th June to the 18th June 1917. As a punishment he was given 10 days of field punishment No.2 which often involved heavy labour and extra duties, plus was fined 22 days pay.
On the 29th July 1917, Silas returned to France and was taken back on strength of the 11th Battalion AIF. The 11th Battalion was then on a rest period out of the front line and much of the time was taken up by training and sporting activities.
In September 1917 the 11th Battalion proceeded to Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. On the 20th September 1917, the 11th Battalion took part in the Battle of Menin Road and successfully took their objectives. Silas survived this action, but four days later was evacuated suffering from scabies and trench fever. He was sent to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne and on the 13th October 1917 was shipped to England.
On arrival in England, Silas was sent to the 1st Western General Hospital in Liverpool. He remained here for a month and on the 17th November 1917 was given a two week furlough. When his leave period was over, Silas reported to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny. He remained here till the 23rd January 1918 when he was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade Camp at Longbridge Deverell. He had another month here and on the 21st February 1918 was sent across to France.
Silas rejoined the 11th Battalion in Belgium on the 26th February 1918. When he rejoined them, the 11th Battalion were then holding the line south east of Ypres, between Hollebeke and Messines.
As a result of the German offensive of March 21st 1918 when they broke through the British front in the southern sector, the five Australian divisions were sent to the Somme to help stop this advance. The 11th Battalion, as part of the 1st Australian Division was the last of the divisions to leave Belgium and had just arrived near Amiens when the Germans broke through the line in Belgium and made a speedy advance into northern France. The 1st Australian Division was then returned north and met the Germans around Hazebrouck, Meteren and Merris and for the next few months were in action here.
On the 24th June 1918 during an action at Merris, Silas was wounded by shrapnel to the arm and face. He was initially treated at the 3rd Field Ambulance and was then sent to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station. He spent the next month in hospital in France, and fortunately the wounds were not too severe and he was sent to the Infantry Base Depot at Le Havre.
While he was here, Silas underwent further medical tests and it was found that he was suffering from partial deafness. He was then sent to England and was sent to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth where he was put on the permanent cadre of staff.
Albert would remain in England for the next five months, undertaking duty at various AIF Camps, though he also had a further stay in hospital, being admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital after contracting venereal disease. After being released from hospital he returned to No.1 Command Depot Camp at Sutton Veny.
On the 25th January 1919 Silas went to Liverpool Harbour where he boarded the transport ship Delta. This ship then brought him back to Australia, arriving back in Fremantle on the 28th February 1919.
Silas was discharge from the AIF on the 14th April 1919.
After spending a short time in Fremantle, Silas returned to farming in the wheatbelt.
His father died in Fremantle 1924.
By 1931 Silas was farming at Toodyay/Gabbin district. He was here through the 1930's then returned to live in Fremantle. By 1943 he was living at 141 South Terrace Fremantle.
His mother died in Beaconsfield in 1947 and by then Silas was living at 66 Pakenham Street. In the 1950's he moved to Oceanic House/Hotel on the corner of Collie and Pakenham Street Fremantle.
Silas died on the 25th August 1970 in Fremantle aged 81. He was buried at Fremantle Cemetery plot Congregational MON DD 0133.