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This website is dedicated to my Grandfather, Lionel Francis King, and the men of the 6th Essex Regiment. It is based on the letters, photographs and clipping that he saved from his time in the army.
The 1/6th Essex Regiment, 8th July 1915
Private Lionel Francis King
Lionel was born on the 16th March 1896 in Portsmouth to Fredrick and Florence King. Fredrick King was serving in the Navy and was based in Portsmouth during this time. At the time of the 1901 Florence, Lionel and his younger brother Fred were staying at Florence's sister, Fanny Newman. Fredrick held the position of Chief Stoker when he retired from the Navy in November 1904. At some point after this the King family moved to East Ham, London where Fredrick got a job working in a laundry.
On leaving school Lionel started working for the Anglo American Oil Company.
The First World War broke out in 1914 and by the ended of the year Lionel and his friends Edgar Biggs, Walter Hay, Frank Nye and the Hullyer brothers had enlisted with the 6th Essex Regiment. Training started in Stamford on the 4th December and continued through out East Anglia for the next 7 months.
In July of 1915 the battalion left England for service in Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine and Syria. Lionel would not return to England until 1920.
Contains the letters he wrote to and received from his family and friends during the First World War. The letters are from him joining the 6th Essex Regiment in December 1914 to his demobilisation in July 1919. The letters cover his training in England, his deployment to Gallipoli and service in the Middle East. It also contains a brief diary he kept from leaving England to arriving at the beaches of Gallipoli.
Series of photos collected by Lionel King during his time in the 6th Essex Regiment.
Newspaper clippings collected by Lionel during the War. Includes articles from the Stamford Express written by his friend Con Grange.
Information about the 1/6th Essex Regiment including a list of their battles and engagements and portions of the Regimental War Diary.
List of all the soldiers of the 6th Essex Regiment how lost their lives during the First World War. Includes any information I can find about each soldier. If anyone has any further information on any of the men listed please contact me and I will add to their story.
Information and photos regarding Lionel Kings family and his friends.
After the war Lionel went to work at the Brooklands Race Track. He was in charge of the fuel depot and worked on developing mixtures of fuels for the race cars and bikes,
Collection of other items from Lionel's time in the 6th Essex including a guide to Stamford, greeting cards and old inappropriate postcards from Egypt.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any comments or information for this website at mattzippyking@aol.com
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