Gordon Alexander King's story is a sad one. He was born in Warrnambool in 1896, the second son of Thomas King and his wife, Elizabeth Smith. He had an elder brother, John Peter King, who enlisted and was to die from Malaria in Cairo, Egypt, in 1918. After Gordon as born, more children followed: in 1898, Levia Maude; in 1900, Albert Roy; in 1902, an un-named sister who died at birth; in 1903, Charles Henry; in 1905, Reginald John; in 1907, Isabella; and in 1910, Arthur Lewis. In all, nine children.

At some stage, Gordon was  abandoned by his family and placed in the care of The Neglected Children and Reformatory Schools Department, Town Hall, Melbourne. When he filled in his Attestation Form, Gordon had as Next of Kin the Director of the Department. He was under age, so had to have the approval of his parent or guardian.

She wrote of him The bearer, Gordon King, was recently a ward of this Department and he does not know where his parents are. I have no knowledge of their whereabouts not having heard from them for twelve years. I see no objection to his joining the Expeditionary Force. J.Smith

When he enlisted on 6 August, 1915, Gordon King was 20 years and 5 Months old. He was described as 5' 2" tall, with 'moles all over body', a labourer by trade and Roman Catholic by religion. The Victorian Police Gazette of 15 November, 1911, had further  information about him: Gordon King absconded from his hired service with Joseph Collins, Farmer, Budgerum West, near Quambatook on 9th Inst. - 15 years of age, 4 feet 9 or 10 inches high, thin build, sallow complexion; wore a light coloured suit and a black felt hat; chinese appearance. Has a Red Bird bicycle and a single barrel gun with him.

His brother, John Peter King, enlisted on 24 May, 1916, and was placed with the 8th Light Horse Company. Gordon enlisted three months later on 6 August, 1915. He went for training to the Depot at Albert Park, placed with the unallotted reinforcements. He was there from 9 August to 16 September, then embarked from Australia on 28 November. On 28 December, he was taken on strength with the 10th Australian Army Service Corps (A.A.S.C.) at Heliopolis.

The Australian Army Service Corps  were responsible for transport, provision of supplies and rations to the front and the delivery, and presumably pick-up, of mail to the troops. On 16 February, 1916, he was placed with the 18th Company A.S.C. at Alexandria from the 10th A.S.C. On 23 March, 1916, Gordon Alexander was transferred to the 29th Company, A.A.S.C., then transferred again to the 1st Coy. A.S.C. on 3 March, 1916. Presumably, this was not unusual, but reflected the need at the time.

The transfers may also have been a reflection of problems: on 9 February, 1916, he ahd gone Absent Without Leave to the 9th Light Horse Regiment and again 12 February. Perhaps he was trying to meet with John Peter, but it was not tolerated in a country at war. On 20 June, the 29th A.S.C. was on a ship to France, disembarking at Marseilles on 30 June, 1916. Here there was another incident when he was charged with having trotted a horse on cobblestones contrary to orders. Horses were presumbaly a valuable asset, and a cobbletsone surface might well cause one to slip and break a leg. 

Gordon Alexander was transferred once more on 9 March, 1917, and placed with the 18th A.S.C. On 4 July thast year, he was court-martialled, charged with 'striking a superior officer being in the execution of his office, in that at Senlis, on 24 June, 1917, struck with his fist in the face of C.Q.M.S. Lieutenant Reid who was at the time in charge of the canteeen'. Goron was found guilty, spent nine days in jail and forfeited 45 days pay - thirteen pounds, ten shillings. 

He must have remained with the 18th A.S.C. for the rest of his time in the army. On 1 March,  1918, he was again under charge, another A.W.L. incident and on 14 March was found guilty of neglecting to obey an order given by a senior officer.. On 23 September, he was given two weeks leave to England, rejoining on 12 October. The last entries in his file show that he was ill in April, with something identifies as a hydrocele and in May, 1919, was again ill and sent to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital in Sutton Veny, England. On 7 May, he was back in camp at Sutton Veny on 14 June, embarked on the HT Mahia to return to Australia, disembarking on 7 July at Melbourne. On 8 September, 1919, he was discharged from the Army.

Gordon King died in 1934 in Queensland.