Born on the 29th of October 1830. His parents were Vice-Admiral Sir Richard King, K.C.B. 2nd Bart., Commander-in-Chief at the Nore, of 45 Wilton Crescent, London and Telegraph House, near Yarmouth, Norfolk, and his second wife, Susannah, the daughter of Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, of Bellevue, Kent, and 13 Great Cumberland Street [Marylebone].
His grandfather, Admiral Sir Richard King, the first Baronet, had been Commander-in-Chief of the Channel Fleet, and had served in the East Indies and during the American War of Independence.
His half-brothers (by his father's first wife, Sarah Anne, daughter of Admiral Sir Thomas Duckworth) were also military men. Richard Duckworth, the 3rd Baronet, had been a Major in the Army, serving from 1822-36, and Sir George St. Vincent Duckworth, the 4th Baronet, was also an Admiral and one-time Commander-in-Chief of the China and Indian stations.
One of his brothers, Henry Robert Duckworth Cornwallis, had been a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Madras Cavalry.
Another brother, John Hynde, had served with the 49th Foot at the battles of the Alma and Inkerman, capture of the Quarries and assaults on the Redan. He was severely wounded (left hand amputated) and given the Brevets of Major and Lieutenant-Colonel, the Legion of Honour, the Sardinian Medal and the 5th Class 0rder of the Medjidie. He was later a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Grenadier Guards.
Canon W. Lummis, in his book "Honour the Light Brigade", wrongly refers to him as "George" Affleck King.
Cornet in the 4th Light Dragoons: 11th of July 1851.
Lieutenant, 4th Light Dragoons: 7th of December 1854.
Captain in the 17th Foot: 14th of March 1856.
In 1856, a Medical Board was held on him when he was living at Warfield Place, Bracknell, Berkshire. Later, a letter was sent:
"Horse Guards,
29th July 1856.
Sir, — You are ordered to rejoin your regiment at Brighton, forthwith.
Copy to Brevet Major Portal, 13th Light Dragoons, Trowbridge, Wiltshire."
Major, 17th Foot: 7th of August 1867.
He was allowed to commute his pension on the 8th of November 1872 and received the sum of £1,650/8/-. He was then 41 years of age.
Retired, by the sale of his commission, on the 9th of February 1873.
Captain King served the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the battles of the Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and the Siege and fall of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasps.)
Acted as Aide-de-camp to Lord George Paget at Inkerman.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Balaclava, Inkerman and Sebastopol and the Turkish Medal.
On the 14th of October 1873, he married Maria Susannah, daughter of A.C. Webber, Esq.
Deaths registered
Charlotte King, aged 38, December 1880, Saffron Walden.
William Affleck King, 58, September 1886, Saffron Walden.
Died at Walden House, Saffron Walden, Essex, on the 24th of August 1886, aged 55 years. In his will he left his estate of £16,556 to his sister, Elizabeth Ann King.
Extract from the "Herts and Essex Observer" for the 4th of September 1886:
"Funeral of the late Major King
The remains of the late respected and esteemed Major King were interred in the Saffron Walden Cemetery on Saturday last.
Precisely at two o'clock the hearse — of the most modern pattern, with glass sides — emerged from the carriage entrance to Walden Place. The coffin contained therein was literally covered with beautiful wreaths and crosses.
Following the hearse were the coaches containing the relatives and personal friends and followed by those of the local gentry and others containing the household servants.
The cortege then proceeded direct to the Parish Church, where the Vicar met the corpse at the west end, commencing the funeral service by reciting the usual sentences.
The coffin was then borne to the chancel-steps and Hymn 231 was sung by the choir, the congregation, a large one, joining in most earnestly. Psalm 139 was then chanted and following the singing of Hymn 428, the coffin was then carried out, the organist playing "O' Rest in the Lord," with great feeling.
The mournful journey was then continued to the grave in the cemetery, where large numbers of people joined in. Some from a distance had been under the impression the service would take place there entirely at two o'clock and so they were prevented from attending the church.
The service at the grave-side was read by the Vicar, and at its conclusion the domestic servants came forward and sprinkled flowers on the coffin.
The grave was by the side of the late Mrs. W. A. King, and was very nicely decorated with ivy, etc. The coffin of polished oak had on it a brass shield which was inscribed, "William Affleck King. Died 24th August 1886. Aged 55."
[Then follows a list of mourners, among them his half-brother, Admiral Sir George King, Bart.]
His brother, Colonel Henry King, was unavoidably prevented from attending and the officer in charge of the local Volunteers, Major H. Taylor, was absent from home, and owing to this a military funeral could not be arranged by the volunteers, but Sergeant Instructor Brown was present in full-dress uniform, representing the "I" Company Volunteer Rifle Corps.
A very large number of wreaths were sent by relatives and friends and there was a superb wreath from the members of the local Conservative Club, many working men being amongst the subscribers. The late Major was a trustee of that Institution.
The Vicar of the parish, as he was away for the benefit of his health, immediately on his receipt of the sad tidings, resolved to be present at the funeral and travelled all the way from Keswick.
Many others who were present had also travelled considerable distances.
The gallant Major was present throughout the whole of the Crimean War in the 4th Light Dragoons, and was present at the "Balaclava" charge, his horse and himself escaping quite unscathed, although a shot passed through his shako.
At the conclusion of the campaign he was laid up in Scutari Hospital withCrimean fever [presumably the disease now generally called Brucellosis], and afterwards, on recovery, transferred into the 17th (Leicestershire) Foot, and served in various parts of the world.
He had retired from the Army some years ago. He was the youngest son of the late Admiral Sir Richard King, the second Baronet."
The Register of Burials at Saffron Walden Cemetery gives the following information:
"William Affleck King, Major, late of the 17th Regt. of Infantry. Age. 55. Died at Walden Place, Saffron Walden, on the 24th August 1886. Buried 28th of August in Grave space No. 79, Compartment 17. "
The erected tombstone is in the form of a marble cross, and bears the inscription:
"William Affleck King, Late Major 17th Regt. Youngest son of Admiral Richard King, Bart. Born Oct. 29th 1830 — Died August 24th 1886."
The adjoining grave-space also has a headstone in the form of a marble cross, and is inscribed to:
"Charlotte, wife of Major W.A. King. Born Feb. 25th 1842 — Died Nov. 18th 1880."
From a comparison of this and other known information he would appear to have been twice married, with no known children from either marriage.
The memorial stones erected to him and his wife are identical in appearance, bearing a cross on a two-tier base, the whole being some 5' 6" high.
The third stone in the King family trio is inscribed:
"To the loving memory of Elizabeth Anne King, the youngest daughter of Sir Richard King, Bart. Born October 10th 1832 — Died October 10th 1925."
Death registrations for CK and WAK kindly provided by Chris Poole.