David L. King, Ogemawahjwon’s Family: Loyal to King and Crown

The name David L. King may not be known as well as, say, his son Wayne King, one of Midlands own and a hockey player of renown.

Wayne’s father, David L. King, spent thirty-five years working as an engineer on the Great Lakes after serving in WWII. He received the Voluntary Service Medal and the Canadian Peace Medal for efforts in 1939-45. Mr. King had also been a loyal member of Port McNicoll Masonic Lodge.

Born in 1922, Mr. King originally hailed from Parry Island, where his grandfather, David Samuel King, was a member of the North West Mounted Police.

Mr. David L. King was married in 1943, sadly losing his wife in 1981. These are the few details we need to understand the nature of his fealty to the Crown.

Ogemawahjwon, their famous descendent, loyal to the British cause, saw action on the Niagara frontier and Moraviantown under Colonel Henry Proctor who had assumed command after the death of General Isaac Brock.

For these acts, demonstrating their loyalty and bravery in battle, Edward, Prince of Wales, awarded no less than twelve medals, five of the largest to the principal chiefs and seven to the principal warriors during his visit in 1860.

This medal has been passed down to one of the male members of the King family for generations.

Today we talk of “Reconciliation.”

The King Family never ceased in their loyalty and devotion to their Sovereign, so they ask, “How can we reconcile, when we never parted?”

To this day, many of the King family are still loyal members of the Royal Canadian Legion.

René Hackstetter September 30, 2022.