Accession Number | PAFU2014/122.01 |
---|---|
Collection type | Film |
Object type | Last Post film |
Physical description | 16:9 |
Maker |
Australian War Memorial |
Place made | Australia: Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Campbell |
Date made | 12 April 2014 |
Access | Open |
Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Copyright |
Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial![]() |
Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX) Corporal Desmond Grimley King, 2/2nd Battalion, Second World War
The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Andrew Smith, the story for this day was on (NX8754) Corporal Desmond Grimley King, 2/2nd Battalion, Second World War.
Film order formNX8754 Corporal Desmond Grimley King, 2/2nd Battalion
KIA 20 October 1942
Photograph: P04249.003
Story delivered 12 April 2014
Today we remember Corporal Desmond Grimley King, who was killed in action while serving with the 2/2nd Battalion on the Kokoda Trail in Papua.
Desmond King was born on 25 April 1917 in Roseville, in Sydney's upper North Shore. He was the eldest son of Ralph and Myra King. Known as "Desy", King attended Knox Grammar School and was a talented rugby player in the school's 1st XV team. Leaving school in 1936, King went on to study engineering at the University of Sydney.
Following the outbreak of the Second World War, King enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 11 December 1939, joining the newly raised 2/3rd Battalion. With no prior military experience, King must have displayed a potential for leadership and responsibility, as after only two days in the army he was promoted to lance corporal.
In January 1940 the 2/3rd Battalion embarked with the 6th Division for overseas service. During the sea voyage King was appointed acting corporal, but soon after arriving in Palestine he was severely reprimanded for disobeying an order and reverted to the rank of private. In August he was transferred to the 2/2nd Battalion.
In early 1941 the 2/2nd Battalion played prominent roles in the battles that captured the Italian fortresses of Bardia and Tobruk. In March the battalion moved to join the Allies' campaign in Greece. The campaign proved disastrous; in April the Germans invaded northern Greece and rapidly overwhelmed both Greek and Commonwealth defenders. The 2/2nd Battalion first fought the Germans at Tempe Gorge, blocking the gorge and allowing the main body of the Commonwealth troops to withdraw, but the battalion was shattered in the process.
King was part of a small group of Australians and New Zealanders who went into the mountains rather than surrender. With help from brave Greek civilians the evaders borrowed, hired, and commandeered various boats and vessels to travel to Egypt via Cyprus. The only navigational aids these soldiers had were a tourist map and a couple of military compasses, and once they were attacked by a German aircraft. King wrote afterwards that in all it was a pretty "fair effort".
Rejoining his battalion, King was soon promoted to lance corporal and later corporal.
Following the start of the Pacific War in December 1941 much of the AIF in the Middle East was recalled to Australia. The 6th Division left the Middle East in January 1942.
After some months spent diverted to Ceylon (modern day Sri Lanka) the 2/2nd Battalion arrived in Melbourne in early August, but their time in Australia was fleeting. With the Japanese in Papua pushing across the Owen Stanley Range along the Kokoda Trail, elements of the 6th Division were sent to Port Moresby in September. The 2/2nd Battalion was soon sent to reinforce the Australians on Kokoda in pursuit of the withdrawing Japanese forces.
The 2/2nd Battalion began the climb up the mountains in early October. Two weeks later they moved into forward positions along the track overlooking Templeton's Crossing. Here the Japanese were well dug-in in a strong defensive position.
The 2/2nd Battalion attacked on 20 October, and after a fierce action it forced the Japanese to abandon the crossing. However, this success came at a heavy price, with more than 20 men killed, including King.
It is said that King was hit at close range, but called out to his platoon to outflank the Japanese position rather than come forward. The platoon followed his orders, but by the time they fought their way to where King lay he was already dead. He was 25 years old.
Corporal Desmond Grimley King is buried in the Bomana War Cemetery in Port Moresby. He is also commemorated here, on the Roll of Honour on my left, along with some 40,000 Australians who died during the Second World War. His photograph is displayed today beside the Pool of Reflection.
We now remember his service and all of those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.
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Video of The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (NX) Corporal Desmond Grimley King, 2/2nd Battalion, Second World War (video)