Thomas Joseph King

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

Early life King was born at Milton on 19 April 1891. After completing his education, he started work in 1909 with the Treasury Department and later transferred to the Marine Department.

Military career In 1909, King joined the New Zealand Volunteer Forces, serving in the Civil Service Rifles. When the Volunteer Forces were restructured the following year into the Territorial Force, he served in the Wellington Regiment.

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. Struck down with illness King was invalided back to New Zealand in May 1916.

Returning to New Zealand, King was employed with the New Zealand Defence Stores Department 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.

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.

Returning on leave to New Zealand in May 1945 King was one of the New Zealand Army Brigadiers suggested as a replacement for Lieutenant General Edward Puttick who had reached retiring age. 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 post war reconstruction of Europe effort in returning refugees to their homes either in Austria or in Germany.

Postwar King retired from the military on his return from Germany in 1947. 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. Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1945 1914–15 Star British War Medal (1914–1920) Victory Medal with oak leaf Africa Star