An inter-War O.B.E., Thai Order of the Crown group of ten attributed to Mr. H. J. King, Honorary Consul General for Siam at Gibraltar

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Civil) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver, hallmarks for London 1931; Coronation 1937 (H. J. King. O.B.E., J.P.) contemporarily engraved naming; Coronation 1953, unnamed as issued; Romania, Kingdom, Order of the Star with Swords, Fifth Class breast badge, silver and enamel; Thailand, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, 1st issue, Third Class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, marked ‘P’ to reverse, with neck riband; Order of the Elephant, Fourth Class breast badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette on riband; Rama VI Coronation Medal 1911, silver; Rama VII Coronation Medal 1926, silver; Rama IX Coronation Medal 1950; 25th Jubilee of Chakra Dynasty Medal, silver, mounted court-style and house in a contemporary Spink, London, case of issue, minor blue enamel damage to Romanian award, generally good very fine (10) £400-£500

O.B.E. London Gazette 25 November 1935.

Henry Joseph King was born on 13 October 1881, the son of John Charles King who later served as Assistant Colonial Secretary at Gibraltar. Educated at Ampleforth School, King became a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Judicature and returned to Gibraltar in 1905 to forge a career in common law and jurisdiction. Appointed Honorary Consul for Siam at Gibraltar, King was repeatedly recognised by the Kings of Siam for his professional work. With the outbreak of the Great War, he also rendered valuable service as British Consul in the Balearics. This was furthered by a host of other roles including Justice of the Peace, Chairman of the Bench of Justices, Police Magistrate, Coroner, Official Trustee in Bankruptcy, Secretary and later President of the Gibraltar Chamber of Commerce, and finally, Life Director of the latter.

Appointed by King George V as Consul for Romania in 1922, King was made a Chevalier of the Order of the Star of Romania in 1931. Awarded the O.B.E. in 1933, his work for Thailand at Gibraltar was further recognised by the King of Siam. Awarded the Coronation Medal in 1937 as per the Colonial Service List, King was evacuated in 1939 to Madeira, before making his way to London and taking up appointment with the Ministry of Food. Raised Consul General for Siam in 1951, he took a particularly active retirement in Gibraltar, including service as President of the R.S.P.C.A. and Vice-President of the Boy Scouts. He died of renal failure and a stroke on 26 June 1964, his funeral being held in the Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned not long thereafter.

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