No. 4 Commando landed at La Brèche, near Ouistreham early on D Day, and they were detailed to fight through and link up with the airborne troops who had captured vital canal bridges (Operation "Pegasus"). King was prominent in the fighting in Normandy and during further distinguished actions in Flushing on Walcheren Island, during the Battle of the Scheldt, he was commissioned in the field (becoming a 2nd Lieutenant, later attaining the rank of Captain). He was subsequently awarded the Military Cross for crossing into enemy territory on Schouwen from North Beveland, for three days' reconnaissance and artillery "spotting". His unit's War Diary records that "during this period the patrol managed to cover most of the area allotted to it, artillery fire was successfully directed on to certain targets and on groups of Germans when seen grouped together in the open".