King, Martijn Aurel, born 15-10-1921 in West Mersea, 
Colchester Borough, Essex, United Kingdom, to Dr George Edwin King, M.B., B.Ch., and his second wife Ivy Ethel King (born Wallis) of Mill Hill, Middlesex. His parents had married in Shanghai in 1919. Martyn was born on the 15-10-1921 in West Mersea. They lived at “Honan” in Seaview Avenue, West Mersea. His father was a Medical Missionary and in July 1922 the family left for Shanghai. Martin’s later siblings were born in China. Sadly his father drowned there on the 05-09-1927.
Martin attended prep school from 1927 and then from 1931, the Chefoo school in northern China 
founded by the China Inland Mission. He excelled at rowing and football and was Captain of Boats and a member of the Football Xl.
After leaving school in 1938, he returned to England and took a business course. In 1939 Martijn joined the RAF 
on a short service commission and began his initial training course on the 14-08-1941. When he had completed his training he was sent to No.t 5 OTU Aston Down on the 13-05-1940. 
Aston Down is in Gloucestershire, South West England, 2+1⁄2 miles (4 km) east of Minchinhampton, 6 miles (10 km) southeast of Stroud and 7 miles (11 km) west of Cirencester. The nearest settlement is the large village of Chalford, 1 mile (1.6 km) to the northwest.
The airfield was used by the Royal Air Force from the First World War until 1967 when the Cotswold Gliding Club moved in from their previous base near Tetbury. In 2002 the land and most of hangars surrounding the airfield were sold by the Ministry of Defence to private developers for use as industrial units.
After converting to Hurricanes he was posted to 249 Squadron 
under command of Group Captain, Flight Lieutenant Percival Stanley Turner 
at Leconfield on 09-09-1940. Turner survived the war and died 23-07-1985 (aged 71) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
On 16-08-1940, Martyn took off in Hurricane P3616 
with Squadron Leader Eric Bruce King 
and Flight Lieutenant James Brindley Nicolson 
Nicolson was shot down on 02-05-1945 (age 28) at sea and his body never found.
Death and burial ground of King, Martijn Aurel.
Martijn, age 18, was shot down by enemy fighters over Southampton. Martyn baled out but was critically injured when he came under fire from some Home Guard 
soldiers. It is believed their fire caused his parachute to collapse. He fell onto the roof of 30, Clifton Road, Shirley, Southampton,
his parachute got caught around the chimney stack causing the straps to snap and Martyn fell onto the lawn where he died in the arms of the owner, a Mr Fred Poole. He was taken to the Isolation Hospital in Southampton 
but was declared dead shortly after admission. Martyn was buried in All Saints Churchyard in Fawley, Hampshire. His CWGC headstone states that his age was 19 which is now known to be incorrect. He is 18 years old. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission 
have agreed to change their records and provide a new headstone with the correct dates on it.
For his actions during this engagement in which Martyn was killed, Flight Lieutenant Nicholson of 249 Sqn would be awarded the only VC awarded to aircrew for actions in the Battle of Britain. After converting to Hurricanes he was posted to 249 Squadron at Leconfield on 9th June.
He fell onto the roof of 30 Clifton Road, Shirley, Southampton, his parachute had snagged the chimney stack causing the straps to snap and King fell onto the lawn. He was taken to the Isolation Hospital in Southampton but died shortly after admission.
Martyn is commemorated in the following locations: On the Battle of Britain Monument in London.
On the Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne in Folkestone, Kent. 
and on the South West Battle of Britain Memorial in Weymouth, Dorset. 
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