The accidental death, at the age of 20 years and 8 months, of Signaller Edward William Prideaux King, at Waiouru Camp on October 4th, came as a great shock to his family and friends. He had completed his Territorial training some time before, and had been back at Waiouru only three weeks when he met his death. There was a possibility of his being retained as an instructor, and he was undergoing a refresher course. Amongst the many tributes to his work and his engaging personality were a number from officers and men with whom he had come in contact. He was accorded a full military funeral. Signaller King was born at Lower Hutt, and educated at Randwick School, being Dux in 1933. He then attended the Hutt Valley High School, matriculating just before his 16th birthday. He entered the civil service, being attached to the Land and Income Tax Department, continuing his accountancy studies at night classes.

He was a popular member of St. Stephen's Church, passing through the Sunday School and Bible Class to full membership. As a Wolf Cub and Boy Scout he applied himself diligently and sincerely to his training and obligations, showing, even at that early age, something of his splendid character and fine example. Similarly, as a member of the Boys' Brigade Company attached for a time to the church, he displayed a full appreciation of that movement's aims and teachings. He joined up as a Territorial just after the outbreak of war, and at the time of his death was about to undergo the medical examination for entry into the Navy, a branch of the Forces which had always appealed to him. Edward King will be remembered with pride and fondness, not only by his family and close friends, but by many others through whose hand he passed whilst engaged in the various activities in which he participated, and who had watched him grow to a fine young manhood, fulfilling, even in so short a life, many of their greatest expectations.

HUTT NEWS, VOLUME 15, ISSUE 22, 29 OCTOBER 1941, PAGE 5