John Edward King, or Jack, as he was known, was born in Bromeswell in 1894. He was the second son of Edward and Rosa. In 1911, Jack was living with his family in Bromeswell and working as a carter to a nurseryman.

On 29th March 1912, Jack joined the Woodbridge section of the 4th Suffolks as his brother Frederick had a few months earlier. When war was declared, Jack agreed to serve overseas with the 4th Suffolks and was posted to France on 9th November 1914.

On 24th April 1915, the 4th Suffolks were based at Neuve Chappelle when orders were received to head to Ypres. This came just as news of the first German gas attacks were filtering through. After a two-day march, the battalion arrived at its destination and was sent immediately to the front line as the Battle of St Julien raged. On the 28th April, the battalion was entrenched in a field between St Jean and Le Brique when they came under heavy enemy artillery fire and were attacked with gas. That evening, the 4th Suffolks were relieved and went to billets. The next day, they were ordered back to Neuve Chappelle. Fifty members of the battalion did not return, including Jack, who was suffering from the effects of gas. Jack was taken to 18th General Hospital at Etaples for treatment and then transferred back to England to recuperate. It was not until November 1915 that he was fit enough to rejoin the 4th Suffolks.

In March 1916, Jack was reunited with his brother Frederick who had been drafted out to join the battalion. Their time together was to be short; Frederick was killed on his first day at the front line. It was reported that Jack attended Frederick’s funeral, taken by Reverend Frank Stone, as he was buried in the dugout in which he had died.

Jack remained with the 4th Suffolks until 25th September 1918 when he was transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps. For his war service, Jack received the 1914 Star and the British War and Victory Medals.