Memory Minder

Extract from the Catholic Weekly - 18th Feb 1954

REQUIEM CELEBRATED FOR MGR. KING, O.B.E.

THE Right Rev. Monsignor Thomas Joseph King, P.P., P .A., O.B.E., who died at Lewisham Private Hospital on Tuesday of last week, was senior Australian Catholic Chaplain in World War I., and was three times mentioned in despatches. Aged 74 years, he had been pastor of St. Michael's parish of Stanmore since 1920. He was also a former director of the Catholic Press Newspaper Company Limited.

Monsignor King was born in Sydney in 1879 and educat ed locally by the Good Samaritan Nuns, the Marist and Patrician Brothers and the Jesuit Fathers. He studied for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College, Manly, and was ordained in St. Mary's Cathedral in 1905 by the late Cardinal Moran. For a year he was on loan to the Diocese of Armidale and worked at Bingara and Tenterfield.

Returning to Sydney he was sent to St. Benedict's, Broadway, where he later became Administrator. He joined the Citizen Forces In July, 1914, as chap lain to the 8th Brigade and on the outbreak of war went with the A.I.F. to France with the Brigade. In December, 1916, he was appointed Senior Catholic Chaplain to Australian Headquarters in London where he was recommend ed for valuable services, and at the close of the war in 1918 was awarded the O.B.E.

Monsignor King was made a Domestic Prelate in 1919. On his return to Australia, in 1920, he continued as chaplain to the Militia Forces in New South Wales. He spent some months as locum tenens at Tempe and was then transferred to Stan more as priest-in-charge, subsequently becoming parish priest. In November, 1926, he received an autographed photograph of His Holiness Pope Pius XI., accompanied by a letter from the Holy See commending him for efficient and constant assistance to the local Apostolic Delegation. Monsignor King was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration in October 1933.

In June, 1937, the then Apostolic Delegate, His Excellency Archbishop Panieo, visited Stanmore personally to hand over the Papal Brief appointing Monsignor King a Prothonolary Apostolic. — an honor recommended by Arch bishop Panico because of Monsignor King's services to the Delegation. Monsignor King was presi dent of the National Committee for carrying out the in structions of the Encyclical Letter 'Vigilanti Cura.' He was made a Diocesan Consultor in 1941 and was also a parish priest consultor and Diocesan Assessor. On the troopship taking him overseas In World WarI, he helped produce a newspaper with three men who became prominent personalities on the Sydney 'Bulletin.' They were Messrs. W. Dalley, later on its editorial staff, J. Dalley (an associate editor), and Kenneth Prior (who is present managing dir ector of the 'Bulletin).

Monsignor King was a foundation member of the Catholic Returned Soldiers' Association of N.S.W., who later was responsible for the erection of the War Memorial in St. Mary's Cathedral. Prior to the funeral to Rookwood Cemetery last Thursday Solemn Requiem Mays for the repose of Monsignor King's soul was celebrated in St. Michael's Church, Stanmore. His Eminence Cardinal Gilroy presided and pronounced the final absolutions.

He was laid to rest in the Priest Section of Rookwood Catholic Cemetery on the 11th of February 1939.

Extract from the Catholic Weekly - 18th Feb 1954

REQUIEM CELEBRATED FOR MGR. KING, O.B.E.

THE Right Rev. Monsignor Thomas Joseph King, P.P., P .A., O.B.E., who died at Lewisham Private Hospital on Tuesday of last week, was senior Australian Catholic Chaplain in World War I., and was three times mentioned in despatches. Aged 74 years, he had been pastor of St. Michael's parish of Stanmore since 1920. He was also a former director of the Catholic Press Newspaper Company Limited.

Monsignor King was born in Sydney in 1879 and educat ed locally by the Good Samaritan Nuns, the Marist and Patrician Brothers and the Jesuit Fathers. He studied for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College, Manly, and was ordained in St. Mary's Cathedral in 1905 by the late Cardinal Moran. For a year he was on loan to the Diocese of Armidale and worked at Bingara and Tenterfield.

Returning to Sydney he was sent to St. Benedict's, Broadway, where he later became Administrator. He joined the Citizen Forces In July, 1914, as chap lain to the 8th Brigade and on the outbreak of war went with the A.I.F. to France with the Brigade. In December, 1916, he was appointed Senior Catholic Chaplain to Australian Headquarters in London where he was recommend ed for valuable services, and at the close of the war in 1918 was awarded the O.B.E.

Monsignor King was made a Domestic Prelate in 1919. On his return to Australia, in 1920, he continued as chaplain to the Mi... More