Topic: GW - Biographies
The oldest known man to have served in the AIF during the Great War
[From: AWM P00755.001]
Henry Venn King, born 1842, died 1929.
King served as a captain in the Mounted Infantry. He was sent to Charleville and Cunnamulla during the 1891 Shearers' strike.
He was promoted to major in 1894
1897, King led the Queensland contingent to England for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
King was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1899.
In 1903 he commanded the 14th Australian Light Horse for a short period and in 1904, the 5th Light Horse Brigade as colonel.
After a period on the retired list he was appointed as Honourary colonel in the 3rd Light Horse in 1913.
At the age of 73 he was appointed Officer Commanding the 2nd Remount Unit in Egypt from 1915 to 1916.
He retired from active military service in 1921 and died in Toowoomba in 1929.
Henry Venn King, a brief military biography from The AIF Project:
Henry Venn KING
| Date of birth | 7 December 1842 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Grazier and colliery proprietor |
| Address | Gowrie, Kingsthorpe, Queensland |
| Marital status | Married |
| Age at embarkation | 73 |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs Annie Stewart King, Gowrie, Kingsthorpe, Queensland |
| Enlistment date | 24 September 1915 |
| Rank on enlistment | Colonel |
| Unit name | Australian Remount Unit 2, Head-Quarters |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 28/3/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A67 Orsova on 10 November 1915 |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Colonel |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 2nd Remount Unit |
| Promotions | Colonel Unit: 2nd Australian Remount Unit Promotion date: 24 September 1915 |
| Fate | Returned to Australia 29 April 1916 |
| Other details | Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Further Reading:
Great War, Military Biographies
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: Great War, Military Biographies, Henry Venn King, the oldest known man in the AIF
