Thomas Joseph King (army officer)

Thomas Joseph King CBE
Born (1891-04-19)19 April 1891
Milton, New Zealand
Died 28 December 1971(1971-12-28) (aged 80)
Wellington, New Zealand
Buried Karori Cemetery, Wellington, New Zealand
Allegiance  New Zealand
Service/branch New Zealand Army
Rank Brigadier
Service number WWI 15/56
WWII 6192
Unit New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps

Thomas Joseph King CBE (19 April 1891 – 28 December 1971) was a New Zealand Army Officer and a foundation member of the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps who served in both the New Zealand and British armies in both world wars.

Early life

Brigadier King was born at Milton on 19 April 1891. He started work in 1909 with the Treasury Department and later transferred to the Marine Department.[1]

Military career

1909–1914

Before World War I King served with the New Zealand Volunteer Forces(Civil Service Rifles) for two years and in the Territorial Force with the (Wellington) Regiment for three years.[1]

1914–1916

On the outbreak of the 1st World War, King enlisted into the New Zealand Headquarters as a Private. King embarked with the main body, departing Wellington on 3 December 1914 on the troopship TSS Mauganui. On arrival in Egypt, King as promoted to Sergeant and on 3 April 1915 was Promoted into the NZAOC NZEF as a 2nd Lieutenant.[2]

King saw service in the Dardanelles as the Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services(DADOS) for the New Zealand and Australian Division and was promoted to Lieutenant on 6 October 1915.[1][3] Struck down with illness King was invalided back to New Zealand in May 1916.

1916–1940

Returning to New Zealand King was employed with the Defence Stores in a "temporary" capacity prior to being appointed permanently to the New Zealand Army Ordnance Department(NZAOD) on 1 April 1917. During this time King completed examinations in accountancy and also qualified by examination as a solicitor.[1]

In 1924 the NZAOD was merged with the New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps and King was appointed Director of Ordnance Services (DOS) of the NZAOC, a position he would hold until 1940.[1]

1940–1945

When World War II started King was seconded to the 2NZEF, New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC) from the NZAOC as a Lieutenant Colonel and appointed ass the DADOS HQ 2nd New Zealand Division and sailed with the first echelon.[1][4][5][6]

Brigadier King, NZAOC

Arriving in England in early June 1940, King proceeded to inspect the proposed locations of the New Zealand camps and liaise with the RAOC the necessary arrangements to equip the New Zealand Division, arrangements which were hampered by a severe shortage of equipment caused by the British Expeditionary Forces withdrawal from France and the impending German invasion of the United Kingdom. The events of the war cause the NZEF in the UK to be sent to the Middle East in 1941 with all their equipment and on 1 January 1942 King was appointed Deputy Director Ordnance Service (DDOS)HQ NZ Div.[1][4]

Briefly attached to the 8th Army from 2 June 1942 King was Promoted to Colonel on 1 August 1941 and formally relinquished his position of DDOS HQ NZ Div on 18 July 1942 and became the DDOS LofC 8th Army, responsible for the supervision of all Ordnance and Ammunition depots in Egypt and the control of ordnance shipping into and out of the Middle East. On 18 August 1942 was posted to the 9th Army as DDOS.[1][4]

On the liberation of Greece by the 9th Army in 1944, king as DDOS was responsible for the military supply organisation and for the relief of the population of Greece.[1] King was aware of the hardships faced by the Greek people as a result of assisting hundred of New Zealand soldiers during the earlier Greek campaign, and convinced the NZ Govt to provide a shipload of foodstuffs directly to Greece from New Zealand for use in children's homes and hospitals and other institutions a gesture that was greatly appreciated by the Greeks.[7]

Returning on leave to New Zealand in May 1945 King was one of the New Zealand Army Brigadiers suggested as a replacement for General E. Puttick who had reached retiring age.[8] In August 1945 King was then seconded as the disposed persons administrator to the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) as part of the part of the post war reconstruction of Europe effort in returning refugees to their homes either in Austria or in Germany.[9]

Post war

King retired from the Military on his return from Germany in 1947.[1] Already well known in New Zealand sports circles, King took an active part in Rugby football administration—as a member of both the Wellington and the New Zealand Rugby Unions.[10] King retained his connection with the NZAOC and RNZAOC by remaining in the post of Colonel commandant until 31 March 1961, a position he had held since 1 January 1941.[1]

Honours and awards

See also

References

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