Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Captain E. O. King, Hampshire Regiment, later Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between state and date clasps (190 Pte. E. O. King, 2nd. Hampshire Regt.); Defence Medal; Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (380802 S. Mjr. E. O. King. 17/Hamps: R.); Imperial Service Medal, G.V.R., Circular issue, 2nd ‘Coronation robes’ issue (Ernest Otto King); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (284 C. Sjt: E. O. King. 5/Hants: Regt.) mounted court-style for display in this order, generally good very fine and better (5) £300-£400

Ernest Otto King was born in Southampton on 6 July 1876 and joined the Post Office as a temporary Postman on 30 August 1896, being confirmed as Town Postman on 4 November of that year. He attested for the Hampshire Regiment for the duration of hostilities at Winchester on 24 January 1900, having previously served in the Regiment’s 2nd Volunteer Battalion, and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War from 11 May 1900 to 17 May 1901. He was one of the Volunteers who received the Freedom of the Borough of Southampton on 10 October 1900, and was discharged on 24 May 1901, resuming his employment as a Postman.

King was awarded his Territorial Force Efficiency Medal per Army Order 8 of January 1914, whilst serving with the 5th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, and served with the Hampshire Regiment throughout the Great War, from 4 August 1914 to 14 February 1919. Advanced Warrant Officer Class II in 1915, and Warrant Officer Class I in 1917, for his services at home with the 17th Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (London Gazette 22 February 1919).

King joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in November 1920, and as promoted Lieutenant in 1922. Advanced Captain, he was awarded the Imperial Service Medal upon his retirement from the Post Office on his 60th birthday (London Gazette 4 September 1936).

Sold with copied research and medal roll extracts.